Boy name · Scottish Gaelic
Ross
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: headland, promontoryRoss is a boy's name that comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "headland, promontory". It is used in Scottish and English.
- Meaning
- Headland, promontory
- Origin
- Scottish Gaelic
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #1465 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Ross
As a boy's name, Ross comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "headland, promontory". It is used in Scottish and English.
Ross is also a surname: the 99th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 224,952 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Ross on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Ross on 3 lists.
“Gaelic ros, a headland”
From Pretty last names, pretty Irish, Scottish and Welsh surnames
“Headland or promontory, from Gaelic ros; a clan surname.”
From Scottish boy names, scottish clan and surname names for boys
“From the northern region named for Gaelic ros, headland”
From Scottish last names, most common Scottish surnames
How popular is Ross?
- US rank in 2025
- #1,465
- 122 babies, 71 per million boys
- Best rank
- #122 in 1889
- Most babies: 1,884 in 1985
- Babies since 1880
- At least 81,872
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 868 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 746 per million |
| 1900s | 591 per million |
| 1910s | 553 per million |
| 1920s | 476 per million |
| 1930s | 431 per million |
| 1940s | 413 per million |
| 1950s | 471 per million |
| 1960s | 508 per million |
| 1970s | 480 per million |
| 1980s | 851 per million |
| 1990s | 537 per million |
| 2000s | 178 per million |
| 2010s | 98 per million |
| 2020s | 78 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,040 | #1,162 | #1,108 | #1,346 | #1,324 | #1,286 | #1,280 | #1,527 | #1,361 | #1,465 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Ross
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Middle names for Ross
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
- BenedictBlessed one (Latin, boy)
- CarltonSettlement of free peasants (Old English, boy)
- ChristopherBearer of Christ (Greek, boy)
- CurtisCourteous (Old French, boy)
- LelandFallow land (Old English, boy)
- PeterRock, stone (Greek, boy)
- WayneWagon maker or driver (Old English, boy)
- WesleyWest meadow (Old English, boy)
More boy names from Scottish Gaelic
- AngusOne strength (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- KennethAnglicized Coinneach, handsome, and Cináed, perhaps born of fire (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- BlairPlain, field (Scottish Gaelic, unisex)
- BowieYellow (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- CameronCrooked nose (Scottish Gaelic, unisex)
- CampbellCrooked mouth (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- ColinWhelp, young dog (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- CraigRock, crag (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- DonaldWorld ruler (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- DonnchadhBrown warrior (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
Ross: common questions
What does the name Ross mean?
Ross comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "headland, promontory".
Is Ross a boy or girl name?
Ross is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Ross come from?
Ross comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "headland, promontory". Today it is used in Scottish and English.
How popular is the name Ross?
Ross ranked #1,465 in the US in 2025, with 122 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Ross?
Names spelled like Ross include Rory, Rhys, Rolf, Roy and Roi.
What middle names go with Ross?
Middle names that flow well with Ross include Benedict, Carlton, Christopher, Curtis and Leland. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.