Neil vs Ross
Neil 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 1979, Neil was ranked #90 and Ross #71 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1980, Neil was ranked #97 and Ross #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Neil was ranked #372 and Ross #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Neil was ranked #352 and Ross #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Neil was ranked #968 and Ross #3254 among boys in England and Wales.
Neil and Ross over time
Neil and Ross appear together in 5 published lists, across 157 years of shared records. Ross held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Neil 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.
Neil reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Ross 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 1986, Ross moved ahead of Neil in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #66 and #74 the year before became #75 and #67.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Neil and Ross changed places 7 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1980, ending at #97 and #99.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Neil and Ross averaged 7.5 places apart, ending at #97 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Neil and Ross were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 61 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #372 and #329.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Neil #232 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Neil held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Ross in 41.
Highest recorded here: Neil #55 in 1978, Ross #39 in 1998.
The order changed in 1986: Ross moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #66 and #74; by 1986 that had become #75 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Neil #372, Ross #329.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Neil held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Ross in 23.
Highest recorded here: Neil #232 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.
The order changed in 2020: Neil moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #974 and #894; by 2020 that had become #1431 and #1723.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Neil #968, Ross #3254.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1952–1980
Neil held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Ross in 4.
Highest recorded here: Neil #32 in 1955, Ross #34 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1980: Neil #97, Ross #99.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1979
Neil held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Ross in 19.
Highest recorded here: Neil #30 in 1956, Ross #25 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Neil #90, Ross #71.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2022
Neil held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Ross in 19.
Highest recorded here: Neil #84 in 1997, Ross #30 in 1997.
The order changed in 2022: Neil moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #392 and #231; by 2022 that had become #352 and #414.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Neil #352, Ross #414.
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 | Neil | 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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #372 (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
- Neil 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
Neil
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #42 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 recorded1954–1979
Highest recorded position: #30 among boys in New Zealand, in 1956 (recorded 1954–1979).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #372 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