Craig vs Ross
Craig 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, Craig was ranked #35 and Ross #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, Craig was ranked #40 and Ross #96 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2015, Craig was ranked #415 and Ross #169 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #478 and Ross #307 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Craig was ranked #516 and Ross #319 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #2263 and Ross #3254 among boys in England and Wales.
Craig and Ross over time
Craig and Ross appear together in 5 published lists, across 161 years of shared records. Ross held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Craig in 2.
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 1959, Craig moved ahead of Ross in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #43 and #34 the year before became #24 and #40.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Craig and Ross changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2263 and #3254.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Craig and Ross averaged 47.7 places apart, ending at #35 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Craig and Ross were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 30 years, from 1954 to 1985, ending at #40 and #96.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Craig #81 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys58 shared years, 1964–2023
Craig held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Ross in 40.
Highest recorded here: Craig #39 in 1990, Ross #39 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Craig #516, Ross #319.
New Zealand · Boys30 shared years, 1954–1985
Craig held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Ross in 6.
Highest recorded here: Craig #6 in 1971, Ross #25 in 1957.
The order changed in 1960: Craig moved ahead. In 1959 they stood at #39 and #28; by 1960 that had become #14 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Craig #40, Ross #96.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Craig held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Ross in 25.
Highest recorded here: Craig #81 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.
The order changed in 2024: Craig moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #2325 and #2160; by 2024 that had become #2263 and #3254.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Craig #2263, Ross #3254.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys27 shared years, 1953–1983
Craig held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Ross in 6.
Highest recorded here: Craig #8 in 1969, Ross #34 in 1958.
The order changed in 1959: Craig moved ahead. In 1958 they stood at #43 and #34; by 1959 that had become #24 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Craig #35, Ross #86.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2015
Craig held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ross in 17.
Highest recorded here: Craig #68 in 1997, Ross #30 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Craig #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
| Field | Craig | Ross |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Scottish surname derived from Gaelic 'creag', meaning 'crag, rocks, outcrop' — originally denoting someone who lived near a crag. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (surname origin) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹeɪɡ/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 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 | Scotland · Boys #478 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Craig has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic (surname origin)); Ross does not have one recorded yet.
- Craig and Ross both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Craig; Ross doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Craig
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #79 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1992
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1954–1992).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2263 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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