Ross vs Steven
Ross and Stevencompared 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 Steven #22 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, Ross was ranked #96 and Steven #31 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ross was ranked #307 and Steven #307 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Ross was ranked #329 and Steven #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Ross was ranked #414 and Steven #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Ross was ranked #3254 and Steven #800 among boys in England and Wales.
Ross and Steven over time
Ross and Steven appear together in 5 published lists, across 171 years of shared records. Steven held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ross in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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, Steven 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 2005, Steven moved ahead of Ross in England and Wales · Boys — #161 and #164 the year before became #193 and #171.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ross and Steven changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #329 and #829.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Ross and Steven averaged 43.6 places apart, ending at #86 and #22.
- Longest-running competitions
Ross and Steven were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 30 years, from 1954 to 1985, ending at #96 and #31.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Ross #60 in 1997, Steven #73 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #68 and #73 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #3254 and #800.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2025
Ross held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Steven in 14.
Highest recorded here: Ross #39 in 1998, Steven #57 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ross #329, Steven #829.
New Zealand · Boys30 shared years, 1954–1985
Ross held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Steven in 26.
Highest recorded here: Ross #25 in 1957, Steven #15 in 1967.
The order changed in 1958: Steven moved ahead. In 1957 they stood at #25 and #36; by 1958 that had become #26 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Ross #96, Steven #31.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ross held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Steven in 20.
Highest recorded here: Ross #60 in 1997, Steven #73 in 1996.
The order changed in 2005: Steven moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #161 and #164; by 2005 that had become #193 and #171.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ross #3254, Steven #800.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1952–1983
Ross held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Steven in 27.
Highest recorded here: Ross #34 in 1958, Steven #12 in 1961.
The order changed in 1953: Steven moved ahead. In 1952 they stood at #36 and #41; by 1953 that had become #37 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Ross #86, Steven #22.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Ross held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Steven in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ross #30 in 1997, Steven #54 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Ross #414, Steven #414.
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 | Steven |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| 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 #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ross has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Steven.
- 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
Steven
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #363 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2000
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1961 (recorded 1952–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys