Ross vs Sean
Ross and Seancompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Ross was ranked #395 and Sean #52 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Ross was ranked #86 and Sean #54 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, Ross was ranked #96 and Sean #75 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Ross was ranked #329 and Sean #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ross was ranked #307 and Sean #234 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Ross was ranked #3254 and Sean #638 among boys in England and Wales.
Ross and Sean over time
Ross and Sean appear together in 5 published lists, across 155 years of shared records. Sean 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 3 of those lists, Sean in 2. 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 1965, Sean moved ahead of Ross in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #57 and #75 the year before became #62 and #57.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Ross and Sean averaged 16.2 places apart, ending at #96 and #75.
- Longest-running competitions
Ross and Sean were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 61 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #329 and #141.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Ross #60 in 1997, Sean #49 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Ross held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sean in 61.
Highest recorded here: Ross #39 in 1998, Sean #1 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ross #329, Sean #141.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ross held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sean in 29.
Highest recorded here: Ross #60 in 1997, Sean #49 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ross #3254, Sean #638.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2023
Ross held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sean in 27.
Highest recorded here: Ross #30 in 1997, Sean #13 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ross #395, Sean #52.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1963–1985
Ross held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Sean in 15.
Highest recorded here: Ross #32 in 1963, Sean #38 in 1968.
The order changed in 1980: Sean moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #71 and #72; by 1980 that had become #78 and #66.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Ross #96, Sean #75.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 1963–1983
Ross held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Sean in 15.
Highest recorded here: Ross #51 in 1963, Sean #29 in 1967.
The order changed in 1965: Sean moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #57 and #75; by 1965 that had become #62 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Ross #86, Sean #54.
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 | Sean |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Irish form of John, ultimately carrying the meaning 'Yahweh is gracious' via its Hebrew ancestry. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ʃɔːn/ |
| 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 #141 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sean has a recorded origin (Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John); Ross does not have one recorded yet.
- Ross and Sean both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Sean; 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
Sean
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #82 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys