UK boy's name
Rosh
A Hebrew masculine name meaning "head" or "leader".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rosh is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rosh popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 5 births.
This profile covers 11 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2005 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Rosh is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 11 living people in the UK are called Rosh. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rosh ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 5 boys were registered as Rosh.
- • About 11 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rosh as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3688
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2024
5 births
Estimated living
11
2026
Meaning
What does Rosh mean?
The name Rosh has its origins in Hebrew and Sanskrit, tracing back to ancient times. In Hebrew, the word "rosh" means "head" or "leader," reflecting a sense of authority and prominence. Similarly, in Sanskrit, "rishi" refers to a sage or enlightened being, indicating wisdom and spiritual guidance.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Rosh can be found in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Ezekiel, where it is mentioned as a place or kingdom. In ancient Jewish tradition, Rosh was associated with the legendary figure Gog, who was portrayed as a powerful leader or ruler.
The name Rosh has also been linked to various historical figures throughout the centuries. One notable example is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which literally translates to "head of the year" in Hebrew. This celebration marks the beginning of the Jewish calendar and holds significant religious and cultural importance.
In the realm of literature, the name Rosh appears in the epic poem "The Book of the Dun Cow" by Walter Wangerin Jr., published in 1978. The protagonist, Rosh Pena, is a young boy who embarks on a heroic journey, symbolizing the struggle against evil forces.
Throughout history, several individuals have borne the name Rosh, including:
1. Rosh Pina (c. 1st century BCE), a Jewish rebel leader who fought against Roman rule in ancient Judea. 2. Rosh Chodesh (c. 2nd century CE), a renowned Jewish scholar and teacher during the Mishnaic period. 3. Rosh Hashanah (c. 3rd century BCE), a Jewish high priest who is believed to have established the celebration of the new year. 4. Rosh Rav (c. 5th century CE), a prominent Talmudic scholar and author of several influential works on Jewish law. 5. Rosh Hashanah ben Yitzchak (c. 11th century CE), a Medieval Jewish philosopher and commentator on the Talmud.
While the name Rosh has ancient roots and a rich historical legacy, it has also found its way into modern times, being adopted by individuals from various cultural backgrounds, celebrating its enduring significance and symbolism.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rosh over time
The chart below shows babies named Rosh registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rosh, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rosh by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rosh was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3688 | 5 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4091 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Rosh
- Ryan 68,692
- Riley 37,992
- Robert 27,462
- Reuben 25,122
- Rhys 24,418
- Reece 24,329
- Rory 21,870
- Roman 16,609
- Ronnie 16,445
- Reggie 14,684
- Rowan 14,371
- Ralph 8,892
FAQ
Rosh: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rosh in the UK right now?
In 2024, Rosh was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Rosh most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 5 babies registered as Rosh in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rosh?
A Hebrew masculine name meaning "head" or "leader".
How many people are called Rosh in the UK?
A total of 11 babies have been registered as Rosh across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.