Paul vs Ross
Paul 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, Paul was ranked #20 and Ross #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, Paul was ranked #23 and Ross #96 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Paul was ranked #249 and Ross #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Paul was ranked #286 and Ross #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Paul was ranked #290 and Ross #307 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Paul was ranked #586 and Ross #3254 among boys in England and Wales.
Paul and Ross over time
Paul and Ross appear together in 5 published lists, across 175 years of shared records. Paul held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Ross in 0.
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 2 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 2004, Paul moved ahead of Ross in England and Wales · Boys — #137 and #135 the year before became #132 and #161.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Paul and Ross changed places 8 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2023, ending at #249 and #395.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Paul and Ross averaged 54.5 places apart, ending at #20 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Paul and Ross were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 30 years, from 1954 to 1985, ending at #23 and #96.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Paul #72 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #72 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #586 and #3254.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Paul held the stronger position in 56 of those years, Ross in 5.
Highest recorded here: Paul #3 in 1978, Ross #39 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Paul #286, Ross #329.
New Zealand · Boys30 shared years, 1954–1985
Paul held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Ross in 0.
Highest recorded here: Paul #3 in 1965, Ross #25 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Paul #23, Ross #96.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Paul held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Ross in 8.
Highest recorded here: Paul #72 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.
The order changed in 2004: Paul moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #137 and #135; by 2004 that had become #132 and #161.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Paul #586, Ross #3254.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1952–1983
Paul held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Ross in 0.
Highest recorded here: Paul #4 in 1966, Ross #34 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Paul #20, Ross #86.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2023
Paul held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Ross in 8.
Highest recorded here: Paul #27 in 1997, Ross #30 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Paul #249, Ross #395.
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 | Paul | Ross |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Roman name Paulus, meaning 'small' in Latin. Saint Paul, originally named Saul, converted to Christianity and became a key missionary figure, authoring several New Testament epistles. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈpɔːl/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #286 (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 | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Paul has a recorded origin (Latin); Ross does not have one recorded yet.
- Paul and Ross both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Paul; 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
Paul
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #73 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #286 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