Namewise

Murray vs Ross

Murray 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 1973, Murray was ranked #100 and Ross #73 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1971, Murray was ranked #92 and Ross #79 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Murray was ranked #88 and Ross #307 among boys in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2014, Murray was ranked #398 and Ross #202 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Murray was ranked #829 and Ross #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Murray was ranked #2014 and Ross #2014 among boys in England and Wales.

Murray and Ross over time

Murray and Ross appear together in 3 published lists, across 65 years of shared records. Ross held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Murray in 1.

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.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 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.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1970, Ross moved ahead of Murray in New Zealand · Boys — #59 and #64 the year before became #62 and #60.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Murray and Ross averaged 6.9 places apart, ending at #100 and #73.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Murray and Ross were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2014 and #2014.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Murray #471 in 1997, Ross #60 in 1997.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Murray held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Ross in 27.

    Highest recorded here: Murray #471 in 1997, Ross #60 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Murray #2014, Ross #2014.

  • New Zealand · Boys20 shared years, 1954–1973

    Murray held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Ross in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Murray #16 in 1955, Ross #25 in 1957.

    The order changed in 1970: Ross moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #59 and #64; by 1970 that had become #62 and #60.

    Most recent shared year, 1973: Murray #100, Ross #73.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys15 shared years, 1957–1971

    Murray held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ross in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Murray #70 in 1963, Ross #34 in 1958.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1971: Murray #92, Ross #79.

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 Murray

Pairs where Murray shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Ross

Pairs where Ross shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.

All closest over the longest run→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1970s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1970 and 1979.

The 1970s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Murray, Ross
FieldMurrayRoss
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningOriginally a Scottish surname/place-name derived from the region of Moray; traditionally glossed as relating to 'seashore' or 'coastal land', though the exact pre-Gaelic (possibly Pictish) root is uncertain.Not yet recorded
OriginScottish Gaelic, from the place name Moray (possibly of Pictish origin)Not yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈmɜri/Not yet recorded
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Murray has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic, from the place name Moray (possibly of Pictish origin)); Ross does not have one recorded yet.
  • Murray has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Ross.
  • A meaning is recorded for Murray; 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

Murray

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1954

    First recorded at #17 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New Zealand · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1954–1973

    Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1973).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2014 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Ross

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1985

    Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1985).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2014 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys