Dennis vs Ross
Dennis 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 1965, Dennis was ranked #98 and Ross #37 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1970, Dennis was ranked #100 and Ross #78 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Dennis was ranked #392 and Ross #231 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Dennis was ranked #655 and Ross #275 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dennis was ranked #453 and Ross #3254 among boys in England and Wales.
Dennis and Ross over time
Dennis and Ross appear together in 4 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Ross held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Dennis in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Dennis reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Ross 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 1953, Ross moved ahead of Dennis in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #34 and #36 the year before became #41 and #37.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Dennis and Ross changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2024, ending at #655 and #275.
- Longest-running competitions
Dennis and Ross were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 55 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #655 and #275.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1964–2024
Dennis held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Ross in 50.
Highest recorded here: Dennis #170 in 1968, Ross #40 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dennis #655, Ross #275.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dennis held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Ross in 15.
Highest recorded here: Dennis #316 in 2005, Ross #60 in 1997.
The order changed in 2011: Dennis moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #470 and #439; by 2011 that had become #392 and #594.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dennis #453, Ross #3254.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys19 shared years, 1952–1970
Dennis held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Ross in 18.
Highest recorded here: Dennis #34 in 1952, Ross #34 in 1958.
The order changed in 1953: Ross moved ahead. In 1952 they stood at #34 and #36; by 1953 that had become #41 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Dennis #100, Ross #78.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 1954–1965
Dennis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ross in 11.
Highest recorded here: Dennis #46 in 1954, Ross #25 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Dennis #98, Ross #37.
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 | Dennis | 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 | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #156 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Dennis has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Ross.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Dennis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #34 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 recorded1952–1970
Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1970).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #156 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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