Namewise

Ross vs Shaun

Ross and Shauncompared 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 1985, Ross was ranked #96 and Shaun #43 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1983, Ross was ranked #86 and Shaun #52 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2017, Ross was ranked #279 and Shaun #318 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Ross was ranked #307 and Shaun #727 among boys in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Ross was ranked #329 and Shaun #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Ross was ranked #3254 and Shaun #1162 among boys in England and Wales.

Ross and Shaun over time

Ross and Shaun appear together in 5 published lists, across 139 years of shared records. Shaun held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ross in 2.

The order between them changed and held in 4 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 1972, Shaun moved ahead of Ross in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #79 and #81 the year before became #99 and #86.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Ross and Shaun were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 58 years, from 1966 to 2025, ending at #329 and #577.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Ross #60 in 1997, Shaun #76 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #68 and #76 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #3254 and #1162.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys58 shared years, 19662025

    Ross held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Shaun in 6.

    Highest recorded here: Ross #39 in 1998, Shaun #81 in 1993.

    The order changed in 1976: Ross moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #177 and #146; by 1976 that had become #89 and #179.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ross #329, Shaun #577.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

    Ross held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Shaun in 19.

    Highest recorded here: Ross #60 in 1997, Shaun #76 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2018: Shaun moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #701 and #709; by 2018 that had become #777 and #665.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ross #3254, Shaun #1162.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 19972017

    Ross held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Shaun in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Ross #30 in 1997, Shaun #121 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2017: Ross #279, Shaun #318.

  • New Zealand · Boys17 shared years, 19671985

    Ross held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Shaun in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Ross #46 in 1968, Shaun #35 in 1982.

    The order changed in 1972: Shaun moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #58 and #87; by 1972 that had become #68 and #64.

    Most recent shared year, 1985: Ross #96, Shaun #43.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys15 shared years, 19651983

    Ross held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Shaun in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Ross #60 in 1966, Shaun #44 in 1978.

    The order changed in 1972: Shaun moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #79 and #81; by 1972 that had become #99 and #86.

    Most recent shared year, 1983: Ross #86, Shaun #52.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Ross, Shaun
FieldRossShaun
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
OriginNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
PronunciationNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Syllables11
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recordedNot yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Ross and Shaun both have 1 syllable.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Ross

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1985

    Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1985).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

Shaun

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1965

    First recorded at #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1967–1999

    Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in New Zealand, in 1988 (recorded 1967–1999).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys