Namewise

Bradley vs Timothy

Bradley 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 2003, Bradley was ranked #76 and Timothy #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 2005, Bradley was ranked #98 and Timothy #100 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Bradley was ranked #246 and Timothy #535 among boys in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Bradley was ranked #372 and Timothy #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Bradley was ranked #404 and Timothy #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Bradley was ranked #364 and Timothy #382 among boys in England and Wales.

Bradley and Timothy over time

Bradley and Timothy appear together in 5 published lists, across 169 years of shared records. Timothy held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Bradley in 2.

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.

Timothy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Bradley in 2. 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 2003, Bradley moved ahead of Timothy in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #78 and #59 the year before became #76 and #86.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Bradley and Timothy changed places 9 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1956 and 2003, ending at #76 and #86.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 48 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Bradley and Timothy averaged 10.9 places apart, ending at #76 and #86.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Bradley and Timothy were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 48 years, from 1956 to 2003, ending at #76 and #86.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Bradley #28 in 1997, Timothy #82 in 1996.

List by list

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys48 shared years, 19562003

    Bradley held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Timothy in 33.

    Highest recorded here: Bradley #19 in 1976, Timothy #11 in 1984.

    The order changed in 2003: Bradley moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #78 and #59; by 2003 that had become #76 and #86.

    Most recent shared year, 2003: Bradley #76, Timothy #86.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys33 shared years, 19872025

    Bradley held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Timothy in 26.

    Highest recorded here: Bradley #130 in 2015, Timothy #58 in 1987.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Bradley #372, Timothy #329.

  • New Zealand · Boys32 shared years, 19732005

    Bradley held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Timothy in 22.

    Highest recorded here: Bradley #28 in 1998, Timothy #10 in 1981.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2005: Bradley #98, Timothy #100.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

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

    Highest recorded here: Bradley #28 in 1997, Timothy #82 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Bradley #364, Timothy #382.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 19972024

    Bradley held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Timothy in 6.

    Highest recorded here: Bradley #68 in 1998, Timothy #75 in 2000.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Bradley #404, 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 Bradley, Timothy
FieldBradleyTimothy
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedFrom Greek Timotheos, literally 'honouring God', combining 'timao' (to honour) with 'theos' (god). Saint Timothy accompanied the Apostle Paul on missionary journeys.
OriginNot yet recordedGreek
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈtɪm.ə.θi/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #372 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Timothy has a recorded origin (Greek); Bradley does not have one recorded yet.
  • Bradley has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Timothy.
  • A meaning is recorded for Timothy; Bradley 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

Bradley

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1956

    First recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1956–2003

    Highest recorded position: #19 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1976 (recorded 1956–2003).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #372 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