Namewise

Andrew vs Timothy

Andrew 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, Andrew was ranked #49 and Timothy #78 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 2005, Andrew was ranked #50 and Timothy #100 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Andrew was ranked #104 and Timothy #535 among boys in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Andrew was ranked #106 and Timothy #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Andrew was ranked #216 and Timothy #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Andrew was ranked #315 and Timothy #382 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2014, Andrew was ranked #518 and Timothy #540 among boys in Norway.

Andrew and Timothy over time

Andrew and Timothy appear together in 6 published lists, across 261 years of shared records. Andrew held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Timothy in 0.

The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Andrew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Timothy 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 moved ahead of the other

    In 1970, Andrew moved ahead of Timothy in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #36 and #34 the year before became #36 and #37.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Andrew and Timothy changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1957 and 2014, ending at #518 and #540.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 54 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Andrew and Timothy averaged 16.7 places apart, ending at #49 and #78.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Andrew and Timothy were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 54 years, from 1952 to 2005, ending at #49 and #78.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Andrew #29 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1964 they stood at #34 and #26 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #106 and #329.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 19642025

    Andrew held the stronger position in 56 of those years, Timothy in 6.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1992, Timothy #26 in 1964.

    The order changed in 1970: Andrew moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #36 and #34; by 1970 that had become #36 and #37.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #106, Timothy #329.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys54 shared years, 19522005

    Andrew held the stronger position in 54 of those years, Timothy in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #4 in 1970, Timothy #11 in 1984.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2005: Andrew #49, Timothy #78.

  • New Zealand · Boys52 shared years, 19542005

    Andrew held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Timothy in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #2 in 1975, Timothy #10 in 1981.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2005: Andrew #50, Timothy #100.

  • Norway · Boys36 shared years, 19572014

    Andrew held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Timothy in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #206 in 1963, Timothy #413 in 1988.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2014: Andrew #518, Timothy #540.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

    Andrew held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Timothy in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #315, Timothy #382.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 19972024

    Andrew held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Timothy in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #5 in 1997, Timothy #75 in 2000.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #216, 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.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Andrew, Timothy
FieldAndrewTimothy
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningThe English form of Greek Andreas, from 'andreios' ('manly, masculine'), itself from 'aner' ('man'). The apostle Andrew was the first disciple to join Jesus and is patron saint of Scotland.From Greek Timotheos, literally 'honouring God', combining 'timao' (to honour) with 'theos' (god). Saint Timothy accompanied the Apostle Paul on missionary journeys.
OriginGreek, biblicalGreek
Pronunciation/ˈæn.dɹuː//ˈtɪm.ə.θi/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Andrew is recorded with a Greek, biblical origin, while Timothy is recorded with a Greek origin.
  • Andrew has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Timothy.
  • Andrew'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

Andrew

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1946

    First recorded at #344 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1954–2013

    Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–2013).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

Timothy

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–2005

    Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New Zealand, in 1981 (recorded 1954–2005).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys