Dylan vs Ross
Dylan 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, Dylan was ranked #49 and Ross #96 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #64 and Ross #3254 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Dylan was ranked #69 and Ross #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Dylan was ranked #84 and Ross #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Dylan was ranked #98 and Ross #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #104 and Ross #307 among boys in Scotland.
Dylan and Ross over time
Dylan and Ross appear together in 3 published lists, across 111 years of shared records. Dylan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ross in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 2 of those lists, and Dylan in none. 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 1993, Dylan moved ahead of Ross in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #70 and #64 the year before became #33 and #51.
- Mirrored each other
Over 55 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Dylan rose about as far as Ross fell — from #246 and #216 in 1969 to #69 and #329 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Dylan and Ross were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 55 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #69 and #329.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Dylan #7 in 1998, Ross #39 in 1998.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #23 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2023 they were #98 and #395.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1969–2025
Dylan held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Ross in 20.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 1998, Ross #39 in 1998.
The order changed in 1993: Dylan moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #70 and #64; by 1993 that had become #33 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dylan #69, Ross #329.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Ross in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #16 in 2010, Ross #60 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #64, Ross #3254.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2023
Dylan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Ross in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 2001, Ross #30 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Dylan #98, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Dylan | Ross |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with the sea/tide — popularly glossed as 'great tide' or 'born from the sea', reflecting the mythological figure's role. Some scholars theorise the figure may reflect an earlier, otherwise unattested Celtic sea god — treat as a proposed origin, not settled fact. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Welsh | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɪlən/ | 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 #69 (2025) | 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
- Dylan has a recorded origin (Welsh); Ross does not have one recorded yet.
- Dylan has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Ross.
- A meaning is recorded for Dylan; 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
Dylan
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #246 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1980–2020
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1980–2020).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #69 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