Adam vs Timothy
Adam and Timothy compared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Adam was ranked #20 and Timothy #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2019, Adam was ranked #25 and Timothy #518 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Adam was ranked #26 and Timothy #418 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2005, Adam was ranked #33 and Timothy #78 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Adam was ranked #38 and Timothy #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Adam was ranked #42 and Timothy #535 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2005, Adam was ranked #80 and Timothy #100 among boys in New Zealand.
Adam and Timothy over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Adam and Timothy over time
Adam and Timothy appear together in 6 published lists, across 246 years of shared records. Adam held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Timothy in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Timothy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Adam in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Adam moved into the top 50 at #47 in 1999 as Timothy fell out of it to #51, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1994, Adam moved ahead of Timothy in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #27 and #25 the year before became #24 and #26.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Adam and Timothy changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1961 and 2005, ending at #33 and #78.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 45 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Adam and Timothy averaged 15.2 places apart, ending at #33 and #78.
- Longest-running competitions
Adam and Timothy were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #26 and #418.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Adam #16 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1965–2025
Adam held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Timothy in 23.
Highest recorded here: Adam #3 in 2001, Timothy #29 in 1965.
The order changed in 1988: Adam moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #68 and #58; by 1988 that had become #55 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adam #20, Timothy #329.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys45 shared years, 1961–2005
Adam held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Timothy in 12.
Highest recorded here: Adam #7 in 1979, Timothy #11 in 1984.
The order changed in 1994: Adam moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #27 and #25; by 1994 that had become #24 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Adam #33, Timothy #78.
New Zealand · Boys41 shared years, 1965–2005
Adam held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Timothy in 29.
Highest recorded here: Adam #13 in 1986, Timothy #10 in 1981.
The order changed in 1999: Adam moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #44 and #42; by 1999 that had become #47 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Adam #80, Timothy #100.
Norway · Boys41 shared years, 1957–2019
Adam held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Timothy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #25 in 2019, Timothy #413 in 1988.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Adam #25, Timothy #518.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Adam held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Timothy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #16 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adam #26, Timothy #418.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Adam held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Timothy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #3 in 2001, Timothy #75 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adam #38, Timothy #339.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Adam
Pairs where Adam shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Adam vs Einar
Over 73 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Einar fell — from #380 and #28 in 1952 to #29 and #57 in 2025.
Adam · Einar · 73 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Adam vs Erik
Over 73 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Erik fell — from #380 and #31 in 1952 to #29 and #64 in 2025.
Adam · Erik · 73 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Adam vs Espen
Over 73 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Espen fell — from #380 and #249 in 1952 to #29 and #430 in 2025.
Adam · Espen · 73 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Adam vs Nils
Over 73 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Nils fell — from #380 and #26 in 1952 to #29 and #61 in 2025.
Adam · Nils · 73 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Timothy
Pairs where Timothy shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Timothy vs Calum
In 1996 they stood at #82 and #91 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #418 and #3256.
Timothy · Calum · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Craig vs Timothy
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #82 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #1705 and #418.
Craig · Timothy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Mitchell vs Timothy
In 1996 they stood at #79 and #82 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #1538 and #418.
Mitchell · Timothy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Shane vs Timothy
In 1996 they stood at #74 and #82 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #1153 and #418.
Shane · Timothy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — close in one country, far apart in another.
- Ivy vs Evie
Ivy and Evie averaged 4.8 places apart in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, and 408 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Evie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ella vs Harper
Ella and Harper averaged 6.0 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 944 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ella · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Mia vs Harper
Mia and Harper averaged 6.3 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 945 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Mia · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ivy vs Hazel
Ivy and Hazel averaged 6.4 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 354 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Hazel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Adam | Timothy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally understood as the Hebrew word for 'man', with a wordplay connection in Genesis to 'ground/earth', since Adam is described as formed from earth. | From Greek Timotheos, literally 'honouring God', combining 'timao' (to honour) with 'theos' (god). Saint Timothy accompanied the Apostle Paul on missionary journeys. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈædəm/ | /ˈtɪm.ə.θi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #20 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Adam is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Timothy is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Adam has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Timothy.
- Adam's recorded meaning differs from Timothy's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Adam
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #380 among boys in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #26 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Timothy
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #61 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1954–2005
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New Zealand, in 1981 (recorded 1954–2005).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #418 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys