Ross Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Ross originates from Scottish Gaelic, meaning 'promontory' or 'peninsula'. It evolved from Old Gaelic to Middle English and then to Modern English. The name is associated with strong, traditional traits and has no biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the 19th century and continues to be well-regarded today.
The name Ross is most popular in Hawaii, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Ross has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, too falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Ross' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 230th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 257th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 239th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 256th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 205th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 591st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1213th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3949th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 5118th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7067th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 9044th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 8942nd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 24522nd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 19915th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Ross' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Ross"
Pronunciation
/rɔs/
Origin
Scottish
Etymology
The name Ross is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word 'ros', meaning 'promontory' or 'peninsula'. It was originally used as a surname and later adopted as a given name.
Meaning
promontory, peninsula
Language Evolution
Old Gaelic: Ros, Middle English: Ros, Modern English: Ross
Historical Usage
Ross gained popularity as a given name in the 19th century, particularly in Scotland and among English speakers, partly due to its use as a surname.
Variants & Derivatives
Ros, Rossi, Roscoe
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Ross is perceived as a strong and classic name, often associated with reliability and traditional values.
Famous People
Ross Perot, American businessman and politician, Ross Geller, fictional character from the television show Friends, Ross Lynch, American actor and musician
Explore More Ross Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Ross"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Ross"
"Ross" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 230th of 7545 | 8,755 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 257th of 6773 | 8,685 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 239th of 7552 | 17,790 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 256th of 10718 | 13,403 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 205th of 16616 | 22,885 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 591st of 24088 | 6,458 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1213th of 23106 | 1,891 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 3949th of 9107 | 95 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 5118th of 9204 | 51 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 7067th of 12526 | 49 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 9044th of 19264 | 58 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 8942nd of 27321 | 116 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 24522nd of 35406 | 22 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 19915th of 30306 | 26 |
Regional Popularity of "Ross" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
13.77% 195th/1416 |
17.77% 245th/1379 |
11.12% 263rd/2366 |
15.32% 175th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
13.84% 214th/1546 |
13.75% 214th/1556 |
12.66% 298th/2353 |
12.48% 193rd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
9.16% 204th/2227 |
8.89% 216th/2430 |
11.99% 342nd/2853 |
6.56% 182nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
6.98% 205th/2937 |
6.46% 225th/3483 |
9.81% 345th/3518 |
6.38% 258th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
3.58% 132nd/3685 |
3.69% 165th/4475 |
4.51% 234th/5194 |
4.13% 261st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
9.58% 439th/4582 |
10.88% 562nd/5164 |
8.29% 606th/7313 |
11.30% 843rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
25.88% 1031st/3984 |
34.34% 1541st/4487 |
18.82% 1284th/6822 |
25.76% 1617th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Ross" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
93.73% 5921st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Ross"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Ross" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.