Karl vs Ross
Karl 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, Karl was ranked #46 and Ross #96 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Karl was ranked #829 and Ross #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Karl was ranked #414 and Ross #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Karl was ranked #2088 and Ross #3254 among boys in England and Wales.
Karl and Ross over time
Karl and Ross appear together in 4 published lists, across 133 years of shared records. Ross held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Karl 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.
Karl reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Karl moved into the top 50 at #47 in 1969 as Ross fell out of it to #64, having been #46 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1969, Karl moved ahead of Ross in New Zealand · Boys — #74 and #46 the year before became #47 and #64.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Karl and Ross changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #829 and #329.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Karl and Ross averaged 37.9 places apart, ending at #46 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Karl and Ross were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 59 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #829 and #329.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Karl #110 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1964–2025
Karl held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Ross in 36.
Highest recorded here: Karl #47 in 1989, Ross #39 in 1998.
The order changed in 1993: Ross moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #62 and #64; by 1993 that had become #56 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karl #829, Ross #329.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Karl held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Ross in 25.
Highest recorded here: Karl #110 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.
The order changed in 2023: Karl moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #1692 and #1366; by 2023 that had become #1407 and #2160.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Karl #2088, Ross #3254.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1997–2022
Karl held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ross in 22.
Highest recorded here: Karl #93 in 1997, Ross #30 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Karl #414, Ross #414.
New Zealand · Boys22 shared years, 1962–1985
Karl held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Ross in 7.
Highest recorded here: Karl #33 in 1973, Ross #28 in 1962.
The order changed in 1969: Karl moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #74 and #46; by 1969 that had become #47 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Karl #46, Ross #96.
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 | Karl | 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 | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 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 #179 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Karl and Ross both have 1 syllable.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Karl
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #35 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1962–1994
Highest recorded position: #33 among boys in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1962–1994).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #179 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