Robert vs Ross
Robert 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, Robert was ranked #16 and Ross #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, Robert was ranked #16 and Ross #96 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Robert was ranked #80 and Ross #307 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Robert was ranked #104 and Ross #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Robert was ranked #126 and Ross #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Robert was ranked #151 and Ross #3254 among boys in England and Wales.
Robert and Ross over time
Robert and Ross appear together in 5 published lists, across 175 years of shared records. Robert 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.
Robert 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 2010, Robert moved ahead of Ross in Northern Ireland · Boys — #98 and #78 the year before became #80 and #127.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Robert and Ross changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2023, ending at #126 and #395.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Robert and Ross averaged 53.5 places apart, ending at #16 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Robert and Ross were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 30 years, from 1954 to 1985, ending at #16 and #96.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Robert #30 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #35 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2023 they were #126 and #395.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Robert held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Ross in 0.
Highest recorded here: Robert #12 in 1978, Ross #39 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Robert #104, Ross #329.
New Zealand · Boys30 shared years, 1954–1985
Robert held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Ross in 0.
Highest recorded here: Robert #5 in 1954, Ross #25 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Robert #16, Ross #96.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Robert held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Ross in 0.
Highest recorded here: Robert #30 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Robert #151, Ross #3254.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1952–1983
Robert held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Ross in 0.
Highest recorded here: Robert #3 in 1952, Ross #34 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Robert #16, Ross #86.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2023
Robert held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Ross in 8.
Highest recorded here: Robert #35 in 1997, Ross #30 in 1997.
The order changed in 2010: Robert moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #98 and #78; by 2010 that had become #80 and #127.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Robert #126, 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 | Robert | Ross |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹɑb.əɹt/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 #104 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Robert has a recorded origin (Germanic); Ross does not have one recorded yet.
- Robert has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Ross.
- A meaning is recorded for Robert; 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
Robert
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #363 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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