Aidan vs Timothy
Aidan and Timothycompared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2005, Aidan was ranked #58 and Timothy #78 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2005, Aidan was ranked #64 and Timothy #100 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Aidan was ranked #82 and Timothy #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Aidan was ranked #136 and Timothy #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Aidan was ranked #155 and Timothy #535 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Aidan was ranked #255 and Timothy #382 among boys in England and Wales.
Aidan and Timothy over time
Aidan and Timothy appear together in 5 published lists, across 145 years of shared records. Aidan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Timothy in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 5 of those lists, and Aidan in none. 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Aidan moved ahead of Timothy in England and Wales · Boys — #83 and #82 the year before became #82 and #96.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Aidan and Timothy changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #82 and #329.
- Longest-running competitions
Aidan and Timothy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #82 and #329.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Aidan #33 in 1965, Timothy #26 in 1964.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Aidan held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Timothy in 9.
Highest recorded here: Aidan #33 in 1965, Timothy #26 in 1964.
The order changed in 1976: Aidan moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #54 and #53; by 1976 that had become #38 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aidan #82, Timothy #329.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Aidan held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Timothy in 1.
Highest recorded here: Aidan #67 in 2002, Timothy #82 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Aidan moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #83 and #82; by 1997 that had become #82 and #96.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aidan #255, Timothy #382.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Aidan held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Timothy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Aidan #43 in 2011, Timothy #75 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aidan #136, Timothy #339.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys13 shared years, 1993–2005
Aidan held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Timothy in 9.
Highest recorded here: Aidan #53 in 2002, Timothy #25 in 1993.
The order changed in 2002: Aidan moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #79 and #60; by 2002 that had become #53 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Aidan #58, Timothy #78.
New Zealand · Boys13 shared years, 1993–2005
Aidan held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Timothy in 8.
Highest recorded here: Aidan #54 in 2001, Timothy #26 in 1993.
The order changed in 2001: Aidan moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #75 and #69; by 2001 that had become #54 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Aidan #64, Timothy #100.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Aidan | Timothy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Greek Timotheos, literally 'honouring God', combining 'timao' (to honour) with 'theos' (god). Saint Timothy accompanied the Apostle Paul on missionary journeys. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈtɪm.ə.θi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #82 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Timothy has a recorded origin (Greek); Aidan does not have one recorded yet.
- Aidan has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Timothy.
- A meaning is recorded for Timothy; Aidan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Aidan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #37 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #33 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #82 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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 #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys