Timothy
Say it: TIM-uh-thee/ˈtɪməθi/
BoyMeans honouring God7 letters3 syllables
#329
in Ireland (2025)
#319 with spellings combined
12
babies in 2025
#26
best rank (1964)
6,396
babies since 1964
Down 139
10-year rank change
Timothy through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | #319 |
| 2024 | 26 | #185 |
| 2023 | 17 | #248 |
| 2022 | 18 | #252 |
| 2021 | 15 | #285 |
| 2020 | 18 | #253 |
| 2019 | 20 | #235 |
| 2018 | 27 | #205 |
| 2017 | 29 | #197 |
| 2016 | 31 | #184 |
| 2015 | 33 | #180 |
| 2014 | 35 | #175 |
| 2013 | 43 | #147 |
| 2012 | 27 | #215 |
| 2011 | 28 | #204 |
| 2010 | 35 | #183 |
| 2009 | 26 | #214 |
| 2008 | 38 | #169 |
| 2007 | 29 | #178 |
| 2006 | 36 | #147 |
| 2005 | 44 | #126 |
| 2004 | 48 | #113 |
| 2003 | 44 | #113 |
| 2002 | 34 | #129 |
| 2001 | 33 | #130 |
| 2000 | 39 | #116 |
| 1999 | 36 | #118 |
| 1998 | 41 | #101 |
| 1997 | 67 | #88 |
| 1996 | 75 | #84 |
| 1995 | 71 | #81 |
| 1994 | 80 | #76 |
| 1993 | 83 | #77 |
| 1992 | 77 | #81 |
| 1991 | 80 | #78 |
| 1990 | 99 | #71 |
| 1989 | 99 | #67 |
| 1988 | 115 | #65 |
| 1987 | 127 | #58 |
| 1986 | 136 | #55 |
| 1985 | 126 | #59 |
| 1984 | 142 | #62 |
| 1983 | 144 | #60 |
| 1982 | 157 | #58 |
| 1981 | 190 | #53 |
| 1980 | 173 | #59 |
| 1979 | 155 | #61 |
| 1978 | 167 | #60 |
| 1977 | 190 | #53 |
| 1976 | 180 | #54 |
| 1975 | 192 | #53 |
| 1974 | 188 | #54 |
| 1973 | 200 | #52 |
| 1972 | 222 | #44 |
| 1971 | 233 | #38 |
| 1970 | 231 | #37 |
| 1969 | 237 | #34 |
| 1968 | 251 | #31 |
| 1967 | 238 | #32 |
| 1966 | 251 | #30 |
| 1965 | 263 | #29 |
| 1964 | 295 | #26 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Timothy mean?
Honouring God
Greek, from Timotheos, from timan (to honour) and theos (god).
Say it right
TIMuhthee
The story of Timothy
Timothy comes from the Greek Timotheos, made from words meaning “to honour” and “god”. In the New Testament Timothy is a young companion of Saint Paul, and two of Paul’s letters are addressed to him. He was later honoured as a saint, which carried the name across Christian Europe.
In Ireland Timothy has a second history. It was often treated as the English equivalent of the Irish name Tadhg, so many men known as Tadhg at home were written down as Timothy.
Timothy was a regular choice at the start of the CSO records. It was number 26 in 1964, with 295 boys, and it stayed in the top 100 into the 1990s. It has become much rarer since, with 12 boys in 2025. In Northern Ireland its best year was 2000, when it reached number 75.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Timothy (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Timothy (given name)
- Wikipedia: Tadhg
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
TimTimmy
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Timothy | 12 | 6,396 |
In Northern Ireland
#253 in 2025 with 7 babies. Best rank #75 (2000); 386 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.