Namewise

Carl vs Ross

Carl 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 Zealand · Boys

    In 1985, Carl was ranked #61 and Ross #96 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2015, Carl was ranked #415 and Ross #169 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2023, Carl was ranked #770 and Ross #319 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Carl was ranked #2263 and Ross #3254 among boys in England and Wales.

Carl and Ross over time

Carl and Ross appear together in 4 published lists, across 121 years of shared records. Ross held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Carl in 1.

The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.

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 1969, Carl moved ahead of Ross in New Zealand · Boys — #70 and #46 the year before became #55 and #64.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Carl and Ross changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2263 and #3254.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 25 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Carl and Ross averaged 34.7 places apart, ending at #61 and #96.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Carl and Ross were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 53 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #770 and #319.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Carl #116 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys53 shared years, 19642023

    Carl held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Ross in 42.

    Highest recorded here: Carl #97 in 1989, Ross #39 in 1998.

    The order changed in 1976: Ross moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #111 and #177; by 1976 that had become #109 and #89.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Carl #770, Ross #319.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

    Carl held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Ross in 23.

    Highest recorded here: Carl #116 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.

    The order changed in 2023: Carl moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #1420 and #1366; by 2023 that had become #1407 and #2160.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Carl #2263, Ross #3254.

  • New Zealand · Boys25 shared years, 19591985

    Carl held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Ross in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Carl #41 in 1981, Ross #27 in 1960.

    The order changed in 1969: Carl moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #70 and #46; by 1969 that had become #55 and #64.

    Most recent shared year, 1985: Carl #61, Ross #96.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 19972015

    Carl held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ross in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Carl #130 in 1998, Ross #30 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2015: Carl #415, Ross #169.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Carl, Ross
FieldCarlRoss
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
OriginNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
PronunciationNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Syllables11
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #192 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recordedNot yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Carl and Ross both have 1 syllable.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Carl

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #133 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1959–1992

    Highest recorded position: #41 among boys in New Zealand, in 1981 (recorded 1959–1992).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #192 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys

Ross

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1985

    Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1985).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys