UK boy's name
Timothy
A masculine name of Greek origin meaning "honoring God" or "honorer of God".
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.
Timothy is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Timothy popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #382, with 109 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 691 births.
This profile covers 6,200 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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.
The latest count is about 16% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 7,366 living people in the UK are called Timothy. 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
- • Timothy ranked #382 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 109 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 691 boys were registered as Timothy.
- • Timothy ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #339 in 2024.
- • About 7,366 living people in the UK are estimated to have Timothy as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#382
2024
Births in 2024
109
Latest year
Peak year
1996
691 births
Estimated living
7,366
2026
Meaning
What does Timothy mean?
The name Timothy has its origins in the Greek language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is a compound word derived from the Greek elements "timao" meaning "to honor" and "theos" meaning "God." The name essentially translates to "one who honors God" or "revering God."
The earliest recorded use of the name Timothy can be found in the New Testament of the Bible. The name is mentioned in the Epistles written by the Apostle Paul, referring to one of his close companions and disciples, Timothy. This early Christian figure, born around 17 AD, played a significant role in the spread of Christianity and is recognized as a saint in various Christian traditions.
Another notable historical figure bearing the name Timothy was Timothy of Gaza, a Christian martyr who lived in the fourth century AD. He was a deacon who was tortured and executed during the Diocletian persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire.
In the 8th century, Timothy I served as the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church, from 511 to 518 AD. He played a crucial role in resolving theological disputes and promoting the unity of the church.
During the Renaissance period, Timothy Bright (1551-1615) was an English physician and writer who made significant contributions to the field of medicine and published works on various subjects, including melancholy and the treatment of diseases.
In the 18th century, Timothy Dwight (1752-1817) was an American educator, theologian, and the president of Yale College (now Yale University). He played a pivotal role in shaping the educational and religious landscape of his time.
Moving forward in history, Timothy Leary (1920-1996) was an American psychologist and writer who gained notoriety as a counterculture figure and advocate for the exploration of psychedelic drugs in the 1960s.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Timothy throughout history, reflecting its rich cultural and religious heritage, as well as its enduring presence across various eras and societies.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Timothy over time
The chart below shows babies named Timothy registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Timothy, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 109 births in 2024, compared with 691 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Timothy by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Timothy 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 | #392 | 536 | 5 |
| 2010s | #317 | 1,463 | 10 |
| 2000s | #206 | 2,079 | 10 |
| 1990s | #101 | 2,122 | 4 |
Geography
Where Timothy is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Timothy. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Timothy ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #339 in 2024.
Across the UK
Timothy in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#535 in 2024
51 years of NRS records, 871 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#339 in 2024
28 years of NISRA records, 379 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Timothy
-
Timothy Wetjen
rugby union player
English rugby union footballer
1991-
-
Timothy Walker
actor; television actor; film actor
Film and television actor
1972-
-
Timothy Ward
cricketer
English cricketer (born 1968)
1968-
-
Timothy Walton
cricketer
English cricketer (born 1967)
1967-
-
Timothy Williams
composer; conductor
British composer
1966-
-
Timothy Verner Taylor
British art dealer
1963-
-
Timothy Taylor
cricketer
English cricketer (born 1961)
1961-
-
Timothy Winter
Islamicist
British islamicist (1960-)
1960-
Related
Names similar to Timothy
- Thomas 160,894
- Tyler 42,147
- Theo 40,594
- Toby 32,482
- Theodore 30,211
- Tommy 25,300
- Teddy 20,781
- Taylor 14,354
- Tobias 13,102
- Tom 9,822
- Tristan 9,171
- Travis 5,202
FAQ
Timothy: questions and answers
How popular is the name Timothy in the UK right now?
In 2024, Timothy was ranked #382 for boys in England and Wales, with 109 births registered.
When was Timothy most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 691 babies registered as Timothy in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Timothy?
A masculine name of Greek origin meaning "honoring God" or "honorer of God".
How many people are called Timothy in the UK?
A total of 6,200 babies have been registered as Timothy across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 871 more in Scotland and 379 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Timothy most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Timothy ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #339 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.