Ross
Ross is an English-language name derived from Gaelic, most commonly used in Scotland. It is also the name of a county in the highland area. It can be used as a given name, typically for males, but is also a typical family name for people of Scottish descent. Derived from the Gaelic for a "promontory" or "headland".
Meaning & Origin of Ross
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Ross is an English-language name derived from Gaelic, most commonly used in Scotland. It is also the name of a county in the highland area. It can be used as a given name, typically for males, but is also a typical family name for people of Scottish descent. Derived from the Gaelic for a "promontory" or "headland".
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Ross
Ross first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1880, with 69 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1985, when 1,884 Rosss were born — ranking #147 that year. As of 2026, Ross ranks #1,408 for baby boys with 133 births, gradually falling (-11%). In total, more than 82K Rosss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Ross
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
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Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Ross
Phonetically similar names — useful when Ross is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ross
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About the name Ross
Ross is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 82K births in the dataset. Ross's peak popularity came in 1985 when it ranked #122. Use the chart and map above to compare Ross's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1985 →
- Names of the 1980s →
- Names starting with "R" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.