Ross vs William
Ross and Williamcompared 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 William #21 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Ross was ranked #3254 and William #27 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Ross was ranked #86 and William #36 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Ross was ranked #395 and William #58 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ross was ranked #307 and William #66 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Ross was ranked #329 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Ross and William over time
Ross and William appear together in 5 published lists, across 175 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Ross in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
William reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Ross 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Ross and William averaged 31.7 places apart, ending at #86 and #36.
- Longest-running competitions
Ross and William were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 30 years, from 1954 to 1985, ending at #96 and #21.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Ross #30 in 1997, William #26 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #30 and #26 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2023 they were #395 and #58.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Ross held the stronger position in 2 of those years, William in 59.
Highest recorded here: Ross #39 in 1998, William #8 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ross #329, William #73.
New Zealand · Boys30 shared years, 1954–1985
Ross held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 30.
Highest recorded here: Ross #25 in 1957, William #11 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Ross #96, William #21.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ross held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 29.
Highest recorded here: Ross #60 in 1997, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ross #3254, William #27.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1952–1983
Ross held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 28.
Highest recorded here: Ross #34 in 1958, William #12 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Ross #86, William #36.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2023
Ross held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 27.
Highest recorded here: Ross #30 in 1997, William #26 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ross #395, William #58.
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 | William |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'resolute protector' or 'will helmet', combining the ideas of desire/will and protection. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈwɪljəm/ |
| 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) | Norway · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- William has a recorded origin (Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm)); Ross does not have one recorded yet.
- Ross has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for William.
- A meaning is recorded for William; 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
William
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #277 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2009 (recorded 1952–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys