Ross
Ross is a boy's name of Scottish origin.
Meaning
Promontory, headland, or peninsula.
Origin and history
Ross originates as a Scottish surname derived from a Gaelic word meaning promontory or headland. Historically popular as a masculine given name in the United States throughout the 20th century, it experienced widespread recognition due to popular culture in the 1990s and remains a familiar classic today.
Popularity in the United States
81,872 babies in the United States have been named Ross since 1880. It ranks #361 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1182.
States where it is most popular
- CA (8.5 %)
- TX (7.1 %)
- NY (6.6 %)
- PA (5.6 %)
- IL (5.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 951 |
| 1890-1900 | 851 |
| 1900-1910 | 803 |
| 1910-1920 | 3,692 |
| 1920-1930 | 5,240 |
| 1930-1940 | 4,558 |
| 1940-1950 | 6,153 |
| 1950-1960 | 9,513 |
| 1960-1970 | 9,781 |
| 1970-1980 | 7,936 |
| 1980-1990 | 15,710 |
| 1990-2000 | 10,462 |
| 2000-2010 | 3,562 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,848 |
| 2020-2029 | 812 |
Famous people named Ross
- Ross Perot: Businessman, Politician
- Ross Thomas: Author, Journalist
- Ross Lynch: Actor, Musician
Fun facts
- The name stems from the Gaelic word 'ros', which refers to a headland or peninsula, and is associated with the historical county of Ross in Scotland.
- The name saw sustained cultural prominence through the character Ross Geller on the hit American sitcom 'Friends'.