Leon vs Ross
Leon 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #56 and Ross #307 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Leon was ranked #73 and Ross #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1984, Leon was ranked #96 and Ross #83 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Leon was ranked #95 and Ross #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Leon was ranked #100 and Ross #3254 among boys in England and Wales.
Leon and Ross over time
Leon and Ross appear together in 4 published lists, across 121 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Ross reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Leon 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 2001, Leon moved ahead of Ross in England and Wales · Boys — #80 and #78 the year before became #74 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Leon and Ross were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 57 years, from 1968 to 2025, ending at #73 and #329.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1968–2025
Leon held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Ross in 34.
Highest recorded here: Leon #44 in 2008, Ross #39 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leon #73, Ross #329.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Leon held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Ross in 5.
Highest recorded here: Leon #60 in 2009, Ross #60 in 1997.
The order changed in 2001: Leon moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #80 and #78; by 2001 that had become #74 and #100.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leon #100, Ross #3254.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2023
Leon held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Ross in 13.
Highest recorded here: Leon #70 in 2010, Ross #30 in 1997.
The order changed in 2010: Leon moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #91 and #78; by 2010 that had become #70 and #127.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Leon #95, Ross #395.
New Zealand · Boys8 shared years, 1973–1984
Leon held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ross in 8.
Highest recorded here: Leon #82 in 1982, Ross #71 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Leon #96, Ross #83.
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 | Leon | Ross |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Greek λέων (leon), meaning 'lion'. Merged with the Latin cognate Leo during the Christian era, making the two forms largely interchangeable across Europe; also used among medieval English Jews. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈleː.ɔn/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Leo | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #46 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Leon has a recorded origin (Greek); Ross does not have one recorded yet.
- Leon and Ross both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Leon; Ross doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Leon a "high" Data Confidence level and Ross a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Leon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #306 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #13 among boys in Norway, in 2014 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #53 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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