Namewise

Nathan vs Ross

Nathan 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1983, Nathan was ranked #12 and Ross #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1985, Nathan was ranked #30 and Ross #96 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Nathan was ranked #62 and Ross #307 among boys in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Nathan was ranked #71 and Ross #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2023, Nathan was ranked #98 and Ross #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Nathan was ranked #99 and Ross #2014 among boys in England and Wales.

Nathan and Ross over time

Nathan and Ross appear together in 5 published lists, across 136 years of shared records. Nathan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Ross in 0.

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.

Ross reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Nathan 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 1971, Nathan moved ahead of Ross in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #88 and #78 the year before became #61 and #79.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Nathan and Ross were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #99 and #2014.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Nathan #26 in 1999, Ross #39 in 1998.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1997 they stood at #20 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #98 and #395.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys54 shared years, 1968–2025

    Nathan held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Ross in 24.

    Highest recorded here: Nathan #26 in 1999, Ross #39 in 1998.

    The order changed in 1998: Nathan moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #47 and #40; by 1998 that had become #36 and #39.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Nathan #71, Ross #329.

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

    Nathan held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Ross in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Nathan #24 in 2002, Ross #60 in 1997.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Nathan #99, Ross #2014.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2023

    Nathan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Ross in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Nathan #15 in 2000, Ross #30 in 1997.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Nathan #98, Ross #395.

  • New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1969–1985

    Nathan held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Ross in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Nathan #18 in 1979, Ross #58 in 1971.

    The order changed in 1972: Nathan moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #63 and #58; by 1972 that had become #45 and #68.

    Most recent shared year, 1985: Nathan #30, Ross #96.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys11 shared years, 1969–1983

    Nathan held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Ross in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Nathan #11 in 1979, Ross #70 in 1969.

    The order changed in 1971: Nathan moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #88 and #78; by 1971 that had become #61 and #79.

    Most recent shared year, 1983: Nathan #12, Ross #86.

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 Nathan

Pairs where Nathan 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 — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

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

Northern Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Nathan, Ross
FieldNathanRoss
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningCommonly interpreted as 'he gave' or 'he has given'.Not yet recorded
OriginBiblical HebrewNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈneɪθən/Not yet recorded
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #71 (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

  • Nathan has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Ross does not have one recorded yet.
  • Nathan has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Ross.
  • A meaning is recorded for Nathan; 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

Nathan

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1968

    First recorded at #267 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1969–2018

    Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1981 (recorded 1969–2018).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #99 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