David vs Ross
David and Ross compared 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, David was ranked #5 and Ross #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, David was ranked #6 and Ross #96 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, David was ranked #45 and Ross #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, David was ranked #71 and Ross #307 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, David was ranked #73 and Ross #2014 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, David was ranked #83 and Ross #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
David and Ross over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
David and Ross over time
David and Ross appear together in 5 published lists, across 176 years of shared records. David held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Ross in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, David and Ross averaged 51.4 places apart, ending at #6 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
David and Ross were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #73 and #2014.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — David #32 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
David held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Ross in 0.
Highest recorded here: David #1 in 1985, Ross #39 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: David #45, Ross #329.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
David held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Ross in 0.
Highest recorded here: David #32 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: David #73, Ross #2014.
New Zealand · Boys30 shared years, 1954–1985
David held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Ross in 0.
Highest recorded here: David #1 in 1960, Ross #25 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: David #6, Ross #96.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1952–1983
David held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Ross in 0.
Highest recorded here: David #1 in 1961, Ross #34 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: David #5, Ross #86.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2023
David held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Ross in 0.
Highest recorded here: David #9 in 1997, Ross #30 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: David #83, Ross #395.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving David
Pairs where David shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- David vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #32 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #73 and #716.
David · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- David vs Ben
In 1996 they stood at #32 and #34 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #73 and #487.
David · Ben · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- David vs Brendan
In 1964 they stood at #7 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #45 and #402.
David · Brendan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- David vs Gerard
In 1964 they stood at #7 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #45 and #348.
David · Gerard · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Ross
Pairs where Ross shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Henry vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #58 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #2014.
Henry · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Patrick vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #134 and #2014.
Patrick · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jason vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #69 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #187 and #2014.
Jason · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anthony vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #65 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #239 and #2014.
Anthony · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Sofia
Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | David | Ross |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'beloved', with a possible secondary sense of 'uncle' for the root. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdeɪvɪd/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #45 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- David has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Ross does not have one recorded yet.
- David has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Ross.
- A meaning is recorded for David; 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
David
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #167 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2018
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1961 (recorded 1952–2018).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #73 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 #2014 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys