Ross
Boy name · #1460 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Ross? In official American birth records, Ross has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Ross is currently the #1460 boy name in the United States — 122 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1162, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 14,754 boys born in 2025 was named Ross.
The 145-year story
Ross first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 69 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1985, when 1,884 boys were named Ross — good for #147 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Ross per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ross against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ross in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ross is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Ross will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Ross is most common
State-level data for Ross is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Ross
Statistically, parents drawn to Ross tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Brett, Cory, Rico, Lamar, and Kurtis.
BrettCoryRicoLamarKurtisRodolfoReneJarvis
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ross | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 122 | #1459 |
| 2024 | 139 | #1359 |
| 2023 | 116 | #1518 |
| 2022 | 151 | #1278 |
| 2021 | 148 | #1280 |
| 2020 | 136 | #1320 |
| 2019 | 134 | #1340 |
| 2018 | 177 | #1107 |
| 2017 | 162 | #1159 |
| 2016 | 191 | #1037 |
| 2015 | 160 | #1162 |
| 2014 | 185 | #1064 |
| 2013 | 194 | #1008 |
| 2012 | 212 | #949 |
| 2011 | 214 | #932 |
| 2010 | 219 | #920 |
| 2009 | 227 | #909 |
| 2008 | 258 | #842 |
| 2007 | 263 | #809 |
| 2006 | 283 | #748 |
| 2005 | 313 | #672 |
| 2004 | 351 | #611 |
| 2003 | 378 | #582 |
| 2002 | 425 | #530 |
| 2001 | 503 | #470 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ross?
In official American birth records, the name Ross first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 69 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Ross a popular boy name?
Ross ranked #1460 among boys in 2025 with 122 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1162.
When was the name Ross most popular?
Ross peaked in 1985, when 1,884 American boys received the name (ranked #147 that year). Since 1985 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ross?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 14,754 newborn American boys was named Ross. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.