Ross
A male given name transferred from the surname, of early 19th century and later usage.
Every Ross since 1880 — 82,293 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ross
Ross is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #1,465 in 2025 with 122 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 82,293 American babies have been named Ross. Its peak came in 1985, when 1,898 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1980s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ross stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ross year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 122 | #1,465 |
| 2024 | — | — | 139 | #1,361 |
| 2023 | 5 | #17,137 | 116 | #1,527 |
| 2022 | — | — | 151 | #1,280 |
| 2021 | 7 | #13,222 | 148 | #1,286 |
| 2020 | — | — | 136 | #1,324 |
| 2019 | — | — | 134 | #1,346 |
| 2018 | — | — | 177 | #1,108 |
| 2017 | 6 | #15,574 | 162 | #1,162 |
| 2016 | — | — | 191 | #1,040 |
| 2015 | 8 | #12,787 | 160 | #1,165 |
| 2014 | — | — | 185 | #1,064 |
| 2013 | — | — | 194 | #1,011 |
| 2012 | — | — | 212 | #955 |
| 2011 | — | — | 214 | #934 |
| 2010 | — | — | 219 | #923 |
| 2009 | — | — | 227 | #911 |
| 2008 | — | — | 258 | #844 |
| 2007 | — | — | 263 | #812 |
| 2006 | — | — | 283 | #748 |
| 2005 | — | — | 313 | #672 |
| 2004 | 6 | #15,684 | 351 | #612 |
| 2003 | 6 | #15,365 | 378 | #583 |
| 2002 | — | — | 425 | #530 |
| 2001 | — | — | 503 | #471 |
| 2000 | 5 | #17,047 | 561 | #434 |
| 1995 | — | — | 1,047 | #268 |
| 1990 | 9 | #9,065 | 1,619 | #190 |
| 1985 | 14 | #5,286 | 1,884 | #147 |
| 1980 | 5 | #11,720 | 1,038 | #230 |
| 1975 | 6 | #8,774 | 678 | #283 |
| 1970 | — | — | 881 | #258 |
| 1965 | — | — | 987 | #233 |
| 1960 | 6 | #6,257 | 1,044 | #248 |
| 1955 | — | — | 1,028 | #224 |
| 1950 | 5 | #5,955 | 769 | #236 |
| 1945 | 5 | #5,127 | 555 | #240 |
| 1940 | — | — | 458 | #261 |
| 1935 | — | — | 427 | #262 |
| 1930 | — | — | 500 | #251 |
| 1925 | 9 | #3,614 | 559 | #235 |
| 1920 | — | — | 548 | #230 |
| 1915 | — | — | 451 | #226 |
| 1910 | — | — | 103 | #232 |
| 1905 | — | — | 74 | #223 |
| 1900 | — | — | 83 | #217 |
| 1895 | — | — | 73 | #198 |
| 1890 | — | — | 101 | #141 |
| 1885 | — | — | 109 | #127 |
| 1880 | — | — | 69 | #185 |
Famous people named Ross
- Ross Macdonald Writer · 1915–1983
- Ross Martin Actor · 1920–1981
- Ross Perot Politician · 1930–2019
- Ross Ulbricht Extremist · b. 1984
- Ross Bagdasarian Actor · 1919–1972
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ross mean?
A male given name transferred from the surname, of early 19th century and later usage.
How popular is the name Ross in 2025?
Ross ranked #1,465 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 122 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Ross?
82,293 babies have been named Ross in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ross most popular?
Ross peaked in 1985, when 1,898 newborns received the name.
Is Ross a boy or girl name?
Ross is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 99% of babies with the name.
Is the name Ross rising or falling?
Ross is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Ross?
Well-known people named Ross include Ross Macdonald (writer), Ross Martin (actor), Ross Perot (politician).