Ross vs Scott
Ross and Scottcompared 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, Ross was ranked #86 and Scott #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, Ross was ranked #96 and Scott #20 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Ross was ranked #329 and Scott #198 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ross was ranked #307 and Scott #199 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Ross was ranked #395 and Scott #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Ross was ranked #3254 and Scott #1025 among boys in England and Wales.
Ross and Scott over time
Ross and Scott appear together in 5 published lists, across 158 years of shared records. Scott held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Ross in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 4 of those lists, Scott in 1. 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 1961, Scott moved ahead of Ross in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #47 and #49 the year before became #41 and #35.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ross and Scott changed places 13 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2023, ending at #395 and #395.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Ross and Scott averaged 52.5 places apart, ending at #86 and #17.
- Mirrored each other
Over 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Scott rose about as far as Ross fell — from #40 and #75 in 1957 to #86 and #17 in 1983.
- Longest-running competitions
Ross and Scott were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 56 years, from 1970 to 2025, ending at #329 and #198.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Ross #60 in 1997, Scott #48 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys56 shared years, 1970–2025
Ross held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Scott in 29.
Highest recorded here: Ross #39 in 1998, Scott #42 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ross #329, Scott #198.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ross held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Scott in 29.
Highest recorded here: Ross #60 in 1997, Scott #48 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ross #3254, Scott #1025.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1997–2023
Ross held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Scott in 14.
Highest recorded here: Ross #30 in 1997, Scott #36 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ross #395, Scott #395.
New Zealand · Boys24 shared years, 1960–1985
Ross held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Scott in 16.
Highest recorded here: Ross #27 in 1960, Scott #12 in 1977.
The order changed in 1968: Scott moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #49 and #52; by 1968 that had become #46 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Ross #96, Scott #20.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys23 shared years, 1957–1983
Ross held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Scott in 19.
Highest recorded here: Ross #34 in 1958, Scott #8 in 1973.
The order changed in 1961: Scott moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #47 and #49; by 1961 that had become #41 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Ross #86, Scott #17.
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 | Ross | Scott |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An English/Scottish surname referring to a person from Scotland or a Scottish Gaelic speaker, from Latin 'Scoti' ('Gael, Gaelic speaker') — the ultimate origin of that Latin term is itself uncertain. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | English/Scottish (surname origin) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈskɑt/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #198 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Scott has a recorded origin (English/Scottish (surname origin)); Ross does not have one recorded yet.
- Ross and Scott both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Scott; 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
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
Scott
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1957–1999
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1973 (recorded 1957–1999).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #365 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys