Timothy Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, Boy Names Like Timothy

Timothy Name Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: tih-mah-th(ee)
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Timothy Name Meaning

Timothy may seem like just another name in the sea of Timothys, but it’s actually got a rich history, a meaningful origin, and a surprising level of popularity. Let’s dive into the story of this classic boy’s name.

The History of Timothy

The name Timothy has been around for centuries, dating all the way back to the Bible. In the New Testament, Timothy was a close companion of the apostle Paul and is mentioned in several of Paul’s letters. He is considered one of the most prominent figures in the early Christian Church and is often referred to as the “disciple of Paul.”

In more recent history, the name Timothy has been borne by many notable figures, such as:

Timothy Leary, a psychologist and writer who was a leading proponent of the use of psychedelic drugs in the 1960s.
Timothy Dalton, a Welsh actor who played James Bond in two films in the late 1980s.
Timothy Olyphant, an American actor known for his roles in “Deadwood,” “Justified,” and “Santa Clarita Diet.”

The Meaning of Timothy

The name Timothy is of Greek origin and it means “honoring God” or “in God’s honor.” The name Timothy comes from the Greek name Timotheos, which is a combination of the words “time” meaning “honor” and “theos” meaning “God.”

The Popularity of Timothy

Despite its ancient roots and biblical associations, the name Timothy has remained consistently popular throughout the centuries. In the United States, it was a top 100 name for most of the 20th century, reaching its peak popularity in the 1940s, when it was the 25th most popular name for boys.

In recent years, the name has seen a decline in popularity, but it still remains a popular choice for parents. In 2020, Timothy was the 437th most popular boy’s name in the United States.

Final Thoughts

Timothy may not be the most unique or trendy name, but it has a rich history and a meaningful origin. It’s a classic name that has stood the test of time and has been borne by many notable figures throughout history. And with its biblical connections and Greek meaning of “honoring God,” it’s a name that carries a sense of reverence and respect. And even though it’s not as popular as it used to be, it’s still a name that’s chosen by many parents. Overall, Timothy is a solid choice for parents looking for a timeless, traditional name with a strong meaning.

Timothy Name Popularity

How popular is the name Timothy? Here’s everything we know.

Year	Rank	# Births	% Births
1910	287	37	0.0105%
1911	289	46	0.0124%
1912	360	73	0.0145%
1913	340	108	0.019%
1914	367	126	0.0181%
1915	338	205	0.0226%
1916	353	196	0.0203%
1917	350	210	0.021%
1918	350	231	0.0215%
1919	364	206	0.0197%
1920	363	231	0.0208%
1921	396	194	0.0169%
1922	346	249	0.0224%
1923	334	266	0.0237%
1924	325	281	0.0242%
1925	328	277	0.0245%
1926	363	222	0.0202%
1927	324	280	0.0253%
1928	347	230	0.0215%
1929	333	241	0.0233%
1930	316	258	0.0247%
1931	305	297	0.0301%
1932	299	310	0.0314%
1933	290	306	0.0328%
1934	303	286	0.0296%
1935	283	326	0.0335%
1936	256	391	0.0406%
1937	193	622	0.0631%
1938	167	848	0.0828%
1939	153	1,034	0.1017%
1940	134	1,360	0.128%
1941	122	1,608	0.1429%
1942	108	2,269	0.1797%
1943	99	2,569	0.1968%
1944	92	2,740	0.2211%
1945	69	3,586	0.294%
1946	60	5,152	0.3492%
1947	52	6,742	0.4039%
1948	38	8,035	0.5033%
1949	34	9,338	0.5805%
1950	32	10,505	0.6524%
1951	28	12,706	0.7494%
1952	27	14,173	0.8119%
1953	26	15,176	0.8575%
1954	26	17,436	0.9538%
1955	22	20,735	1.1273%
1956	19	23,268	1.232%
1957	19	24,726	1.2849%
1958	13	28,761	1.5218%
1959	12	30,752	1.6186%
1960	11	30,484	1.6089%
1961	15	28,241	1.4959%
1962	16	27,088	1.4755%
1963	15	27,194	1.515%
1964	15	28,104	1.5966%
1965	12	28,344	1.7332%
1966	11	28,933	1.8531%
1967	11	28,588	1.8838%
1968	13	26,511	1.7655%
1969	17	23,371	1.517%
1970	20	22,437	1.4099%
1971	21	20,095	1.3373%
1972	21	17,608	1.2928%
1973	22	16,052	1.2382%
1974	22	15,893	1.2228%
1975	22	15,957	1.2418%
1976	21	16,630	1.2903%
1977	18	17,981	1.334%
1978	17	19,605	1.4582%
1979	18	19,082	1.3533%
1980	20	19,154	1.31%
1981	24	18,226	1.2399%
1982	25	17,463	1.1686%
1983	26	16,363	1.1089%
1984	26	16,994	1.1424%
1985	26	17,141	1.1293%
1986	27	16,873	1.1178%
1987	26	17,390	1.1396%
1988	25	16,802	1.0782%
1989	28	16,425	1.0179%
1990	30	15,688	0.9465%
1991	32	14,149	0.8681%
1992	34	12,856	0.8054%
1993	38	11,635	0.7463%
1994	39	10,767	0.7016%
1995	40	9,787	0.6494%
1996	40	8,918	0.5956%
1997	43	8,503	0.5749%
1998	49	7,845	0.5241%
1999	49	7,590	0.5068%
2000	58	7,260	0.4753%
2001	66	6,416	0.4258%
2002	70	6,017	0.4015%
2003	76	5,479	0.3601%
2004	79	5,228	0.343%
2005	84	5,024	0.3286%
2006	93	4,701	0.3002%
2007	99	4,434	0.281%
2008	107	4,088	0.2645%
2009	109	3,754	0.2512%
2010	114	3,440	0.2387%
2011	122	3,226	0.2264%
2012	118	3,104	0.2178%
2013	124	3,040	0.2135%
2014	134	3,005	0.2063%
2015	147	2,780	0.1911%
2016	152	2,644	0.1834%
2017	163	2,388	0.1711%
2018	164	2,325	0.1692%
2019	187	2,057	0.1519%
2020	191	1,957	0.1537%
2021	199	1,893	0.1549%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Timothy

If you like Timothy, you’ll love these other names like Timothy.

What names are diminutives of Timothy?

A diminutive is a name that’s like Timothy sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Timothy, but shorter.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Tim	God's honor	Greek

What names are variants of Timothy?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Timothy.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Tim	God's honor	Greek
Timmo	God's honor	Greek
Timmothy	God's honor	Greek
Timmy	God's honor	Greek
Timo	God's honor	Greek
Timofei	God's honor	Greek
Timofeo	God's honor	Greek
Timofey	God's honor	Greek
Timon	Respect	Greek
Timoteo	God's honor	Greek
Timothe	God's honor	Greek
Timotheo	God's honor	Greek
Timotheus	God's honor	Greek

Timothey	God's honor	Greek
Tymmothy	God's honor	Greek
Tymon	God's honor	Greek
Tymoteusz	God's honor	Greek
Tymothy	God's honor	Greek

What names are similar to Timothy?

Find a name that’s like Timothy, but just a little bit different.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Tighe		Irish

Lists With Timothy

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Timothy.

Siblings of Timothy

Mamas with kids named Timothy also have kids with these names.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Jonathan	God has given	Hebrew
Alison	Noble one	German
Isaiah	God is salvation	Hebrew
Micky	Who resembles God?	Hebrew

Share Your Thoughts

10 Comments

Alleyne Mar 18 at 11:10 am

Traditional, easy to pronounce, and something my husband and I could agree on.

Reply
Rosemary Mar 16 at 1:57 am

I honestly love the name Timothy..it’s classic and has a beautiful sound.and as a christian.i would love to name my baby boy Timothy.

Reply
chrystal Feb 14 at 10:24 am

NAMED AFTER HIS DAD AND GRANDPA

Reply
Dominika Sep 11 at 8:26 am

We are from Slovakia and we were looking for name which is similar in alovakian and English as well. So we chose Timotej as it’s really similar to Timothy in uk.

Reply
Brittney Jan 29 at 9:08 am

My husband actually named my son, but I live the name because it’s a classic name. I also love that it’s a name in the bible, like my other son Isaiah.

Reply
Crissy Havnar Nov 26 at 12:16 pm

We choose the name Timothy because we decided to name our last baby boy we are having after my husband. My husbands name is Timothy.

Reply
Susan Aug 8 at 9:19 am

It’s his grandfathers name.

Reply
Bethany Jul 27 at 11:47 pm

My baby is named Timothy for two reasons. He’s named after Timothy in the Bible. I just think the name is classic and will never go out of style. His middle name is James, so he has many possibilities for nicknames, but he can also just feel comfortable going by his first name.

Reply
Mama Jun 17 at 5:09 pm

It’s my fathers name and I love it!

Reply
Mama Rachel Jun 13 at 9:19 pm

We wanted a name representative of being a strong spiritual leader. We named him after the Bible Character Timothy. We nicknamed him Timo because he ended up being born on Australia Day!

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