Brendan vs Ross
Brendan and Rosscompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Brendan was ranked #29 and Ross #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, Brendan was ranked #78 and Ross #96 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #619 and Ross #307 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Brendan was ranked #402 and Ross #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Brendan was ranked #395 and Ross #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #1402 and Ross #3254 among boys in England and Wales.
Brendan and Ross over time
Brendan and Ross appear together in 5 published lists, across 150 years of shared records. Ross held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Brendan in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Ross reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Brendan in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1970, Brendan moved ahead of Ross in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #86 and #70 the year before became #76 and #78.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Brendan and Ross changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1402 and #3254.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Brendan and Ross averaged 51.0 places apart, ending at #395 and #395.
- Longest-running competitions
Brendan and Ross were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 61 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #402 and #329.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Brendan #157 in 1998, Ross #60 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Brendan held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Ross in 28.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #16 in 1965, Ross #39 in 1998.
The order changed in 2024: Ross moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #288 and #319; by 2024 that had become #394 and #275.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Brendan #402, Ross #329.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Brendan held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Ross in 20.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #157 in 1998, Ross #60 in 1997.
The order changed in 2023: Brendan moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #1366 and #1366; by 2023 that had become #1701 and #2160.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brendan #1402, Ross #3254.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2023
Brendan held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Ross in 20.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #73 in 1997, Ross #30 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Brendan #395, Ross #395.
New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 1966–1985
Brendan held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Ross in 10.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #53 in 1982, Ross #39 in 1966.
The order changed in 1979: Brendan moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #86 and #74; by 1979 that had become #68 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Brendan #78, Ross #96.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys15 shared years, 1965–1983
Brendan held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Ross in 5.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #29 in 1983, Ross #60 in 1966.
The order changed in 1970: Brendan moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #86 and #70; by 1970 that had become #76 and #78.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Brendan #29, Ross #86.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Brendan | Ross |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Brendan has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Ross.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Brendan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Ross
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #36 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1985
Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1985).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys