Fun Facts About the Name Timothy
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 1,084,138 boys named Timothy from 1880 through 2025.
- Decades of popularity: Timothy stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 65 consecutive years, from 1943 through 2007.
- More than 1 million babies named Timothy: U.S. records list 1,088,464 babies given the name Timothy from 1880 through 2025. Even 4,326 girls received the name Timothy - about 1 girl for every 251 boys.
What Does the Name Timothy Mean?
Timothy is the English form of the Greek name Timotheos (Τιμόθεος), usually translated as "honoring God." The Greek name is a compound of timē (τιμή), meaning "honor, worth, or esteem," and theos (θεός), meaning "god." The literal pieces are "honor" and "god"; the customary English meaning takes the whole name to describe a person who honors God. Some older translations render it "honored by God," which reads theos as the source of the honor rather than its object. The Latin form was Timotheus, and from Latin it passed into the languages of Western Europe.
Timothy Name History & Origins
The name is best known from the New Testament. Timothy was a companion and assistant of the apostle Paul. Paul addresses two letters to him, 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy, and Timothy also appears in Acts and in several letters attributed to Paul. Early Christian communities therefore used the Greek name Timotheos, and it was carried in Latin as Timotheus. Christian tradition holds that Timothy later served as bishop of Ephesus. The name appears in the calendars and writings of the Greek and Latin churches; later church leaders such as Timothy I of Alexandria in the fourth century also bore it.
In Western Europe the Latin Timotheus developed into vernacular forms such as French Timothée, Italian and Spanish Timoteo, and German Timotheus. In Russian it became Timofey. The English form Timothy is attested by the 16th century; it appears in the 1611 King James Bible, where the New Testament letters are addressed to Timothy. The short form Tim is common in English.
How Popular is the Name Timothy?
Timothy remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1943 to 2007. Its highest annual birth count was in 1959, and people born that year turn 67 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | #18,642 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #18,882 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #19,312 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #19,607 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #17,331 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #15,355 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #19,843 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #12,921 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #4,276 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 2003 | #8,458 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2002 | #11,035 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2001 | #8,163 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2000 | #10,683 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1999 | #7,208 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1998 | #6,697 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1997 | #6,819 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1996 | #5,271 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1995 | #5,429 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1994 | #5,231 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1993 | #4,092 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1992 | #3,767 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1991 | #3,714 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1990 | #2,173 | 60 | 0.0032% |
| 1989 | #2,051 | 62 | 0.0034% |
| 1988 | #1,279 | 115 | 0.0065% |
| 1987 | #1,221 | 118 | 0.0068% |
| 1986 | #1,271 | 107 | 0.0062% |
| 1985 | #1,095 | 133 | 0.0077% |
| 1984 | #1,111 | 125 | 0.0074% |
| 1983 | #1,102 | 125 | 0.0075% |
| 1982 | #1,078 | 133 | 0.0079% |
| 1981 | #1,007 | 145 | 0.0087% |
| 1980 | #1,249 | 105 | 0.0063% |
| 1979 | #1,073 | 129 | 0.0080% |
| 1978 | #1,185 | 107 | 0.0070% |
| 1977 | #1,205 | 102 | 0.0067% |
| 1976 | #1,046 | 118 | 0.0081% |
| 1975 | #1,119 | 105 | 0.0072% |
| 1974 | #1,368 | 76 | 0.0052% |
| 1973 | #1,167 | 94 | 0.0064% |
| 1972 | #1,029 | 114 | 0.0075% |
| 1971 | #1,054 | 115 | 0.0069% |
| 1970 | #918 | 141 | 0.0081% |
| 1969 | #1,064 | 107 | 0.0063% |
| 1968 | #878 | 138 | 0.0084% |
| 1967 | #910 | 127 | 0.0077% |
| 1966 | #951 | 115 | 0.0068% |
| 1965 | #981 | 112 | 0.0063% |
| 1964 | #1,162 | 91 | 0.0048% |
| 1963 | #1,098 | 99 | 0.0051% |
| 1962 | #1,149 | 91 | 0.0046% |
| 1961 | #1,107 | 99 | 0.0049% |
| 1960 | #1,161 | 89 | 0.0044% |
| 1959 | #1,208 | 79 | 0.0039% |
| 1958 | #1,188 | 81 | 0.0040% |
| 1957 | #1,426 | 56 | 0.0027% |
| 1956 | #1,546 | 48 | 0.0024% |
| 1955 | #1,496 | 47 | 0.0024% |
| 1954 | #1,579 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 1953 | #1,700 | 35 | 0.0019% |
| 1952 | #1,889 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1951 | #3,268 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1950 | #1,869 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1949 | #2,335 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1948 | #2,485 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1947 | #3,054 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1946 | #2,087 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1945 | #3,112 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1944 | #2,938 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1943 | #2,682 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1942 | #3,181 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1941 | #3,925 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1939 | #3,400 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1938 | #2,916 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1935 | #4,834 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1930 | #5,184 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1928 | #5,364 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1925 | #5,697 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1921 | #3,985 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #203 | 1,734 | 0.1015% |
| 2024 | #208 | 1,708 | 0.0996% |
| 2023 | #211 | 1,742 | 0.1020% |
| 2022 | #202 | 1,844 | 0.1057% |
| 2021 | #199 | 1,921 | 0.1099% |
| 2020 | #193 | 2,010 | 0.1165% |
| 2019 | #188 | 2,092 | 0.1167% |
| 2018 | #165 | 2,355 | 0.1297% |
| 2017 | #163 | 2,418 | 0.1307% |
| 2016 | #152 | 2,672 | 0.1408% |
| 2015 | #147 | 2,801 | 0.1462% |
| 2014 | #134 | 3,011 | 0.1568% |
| 2013 | #124 | 3,068 | 0.1622% |
| 2012 | #118 | 3,123 | 0.1647% |
| 2011 | #123 | 3,233 | 0.1702% |
| 2010 | #114 | 3,453 | 0.1800% |
| 2009 | #109 | 3,772 | 0.1902% |
| 2008 | #107 | 4,094 | 0.2007% |
| 2007 | #99 | 4,437 | 0.2138% |
| 2006 | #93 | 4,706 | 0.2290% |
| 2005 | #84 | 5,034 | 0.2521% |
| 2004 | #79 | 5,233 | 0.2637% |
| 2003 | #76 | 5,486 | 0.2777% |
| 2002 | #70 | 6,020 | 0.3101% |
| 2001 | #67 | 6,422 | 0.3305% |
| 2000 | #58 | 7,261 | 0.3697% |
| 1999 | #49 | 7,593 | 0.3955% |
| 1998 | #49 | 7,845 | 0.4104% |
| 1997 | #43 | 8,502 | 0.4510% |
| 1996 | #40 | 8,919 | 0.4709% |
| 1995 | #40 | 9,788 | 0.5142% |
| 1994 | #39 | 10,768 | 0.5574% |
| 1993 | #38 | 11,638 | 0.5934% |
| 1992 | #34 | 12,862 | 0.6439% |
| 1991 | #32 | 14,153 | 0.7005% |
| 1990 | #30 | 15,699 | 0.7643% |
| 1989 | #28 | 16,427 | 0.8210% |
| 1988 | #25 | 16,808 | 0.8781% |
| 1987 | #26 | 17,397 | 0.9318% |
| 1986 | #27 | 16,875 | 0.9164% |
| 1985 | #26 | 17,138 | 0.9272% |
| 1984 | #26 | 16,988 | 0.9412% |
| 1983 | #26 | 16,363 | 0.9128% |
| 1982 | #25 | 17,463 | 0.9623% |
| 1981 | #24 | 18,228 | 1.0176% |
| 1980 | #20 | 19,147 | 1.0732% |
| 1979 | #18 | 19,078 | 1.1081% |
| 1978 | #17 | 19,597 | 1.1935% |
| 1977 | #18 | 17,976 | 1.0939% |
| 1976 | #21 | 16,621 | 1.0592% |
| 1975 | #22 | 15,948 | 1.0213% |
| 1974 | #22 | 15,892 | 1.0106% |
| 1973 | #22 | 16,035 | 1.0288% |
| 1972 | #21 | 17,605 | 1.0856% |
| 1971 | #21 | 20,089 | 1.1359% |
| 1970 | #20 | 22,427 | 1.2068% |
| 1969 | #17 | 23,359 | 1.3062% |
| 1968 | #13 | 26,497 | 1.5245% |
| 1967 | #11 | 28,587 | 1.6393% |
| 1966 | #11 | 28,927 | 1.6219% |
| 1965 | #12 | 28,332 | 1.5230% |
| 1964 | #15 | 28,097 | 1.4100% |
| 1963 | #15 | 27,182 | 1.3385% |
| 1962 | #16 | 27,107 | 1.3103% |
| 1961 | #15 | 28,246 | 1.3299% |
| 1960 | #11 | 30,485 | 1.4299% |
| 1959 | #12 | 30,784 | 1.4422% |
| 1958 | #13 | 28,794 | 1.3567% |
| 1957 | #19 | 24,733 | 1.1465% |
| 1956 | #19 | 23,289 | 1.1010% |
| 1955 | #22 | 20,738 | 1.0068% |
| 1954 | #26 | 17,427 | 0.8548% |
| 1953 | #26 | 15,188 | 0.7701% |
| 1952 | #27 | 14,167 | 0.7289% |
| 1951 | #28 | 12,704 | 0.6747% |
| 1950 | #32 | 10,498 | 0.5864% |
| 1949 | #34 | 9,346 | 0.5269% |
| 1948 | #38 | 8,043 | 0.4584% |
| 1947 | #52 | 6,747 | 0.3688% |
| 1946 | #60 | 5,152 | 0.3172% |
| 1945 | #70 | 3,591 | 0.2668% |
| 1944 | #92 | 2,754 | 0.2021% |
| 1943 | #99 | 2,578 | 0.1806% |
| 1942 | #108 | 2,275 | 0.1647% |
| 1941 | #121 | 1,632 | 0.1329% |
| 1940 | #135 | 1,385 | 0.1195% |
| 1939 | #153 | 1,067 | 0.0964% |
| 1938 | #167 | 882 | 0.0795% |
| 1937 | #192 | 673 | 0.0631% |
| 1936 | #253 | 439 | 0.0423% |
| 1935 | #281 | 371 | 0.0356% |
| 1934 | #296 | 336 | 0.0325% |
| 1933 | #284 | 346 | 0.0349% |
| 1932 | #301 | 341 | 0.0327% |
| 1931 | #301 | 344 | 0.0331% |
| 1930 | #316 | 307 | 0.0280% |
| 1929 | #325 | 292 | 0.0271% |
| 1928 | #327 | 297 | 0.0268% |
| 1927 | #320 | 325 | 0.0288% |
| 1926 | #351 | 274 | 0.0247% |
| 1925 | #319 | 319 | 0.0286% |
| 1924 | #324 | 322 | 0.0284% |
| 1923 | #323 | 325 | 0.0297% |
| 1922 | #350 | 288 | 0.0265% |
| 1921 | #383 | 249 | 0.0226% |
| 1920 | #366 | 269 | 0.0253% |
| 1919 | #367 | 249 | 0.0254% |
| 1918 | #341 | 285 | 0.0281% |
| 1917 | #344 | 260 | 0.0281% |
| 1916 | #340 | 246 | 0.0276% |
| 1915 | #332 | 253 | 0.0298% |
| 1914 | #355 | 174 | 0.0266% |
| 1913 | #319 | 160 | 0.0312% |
| 1912 | #335 | 128 | 0.0298% |
| 1911 | #280 | 88 | 0.0389% |
| 1910 | #280 | 75 | 0.0386% |
| 1909 | #278 | 67 | 0.0409% |
| 1908 | #260 | 67 | 0.0434% |
| 1907 | #228 | 81 | 0.0552% |
| 1906 | #278 | 52 | 0.0391% |
| 1905 | #226 | 73 | 0.0552% |
| 1904 | #253 | 58 | 0.0453% |
| 1903 | #265 | 49 | 0.0411% |
| 1902 | #231 | 62 | 0.0505% |
| 1901 | #220 | 62 | 0.0582% |
| 1900 | #229 | 76 | 0.0505% |
| 1899 | #218 | 60 | 0.0565% |
| 1898 | #200 | 75 | 0.0611% |
| 1897 | #231 | 58 | 0.0514% |
| 1896 | #211 | 72 | 0.0602% |
| 1895 | #228 | 60 | 0.0511% |
| 1894 | #204 | 71 | 0.0613% |
| 1893 | #220 | 62 | 0.0552% |
| 1892 | #207 | 71 | 0.0582% |
| 1891 | #190 | 66 | 0.0652% |
| 1890 | #223 | 56 | 0.0504% |
| 1889 | #166 | 82 | 0.0742% |
| 1888 | #199 | 76 | 0.0629% |
| 1887 | #216 | 54 | 0.0532% |
| 1886 | #181 | 74 | 0.0668% |
| 1885 | #199 | 64 | 0.0594% |
| 1884 | #183 | 77 | 0.0673% |
| 1883 | #192 | 62 | 0.0593% |
| 1882 | #187 | 71 | 0.0625% |
| 1881 | #185 | 63 | 0.0625% |
| 1880 | #183 | 70 | 0.0634% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
