Calum vs Timothy
Calum 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Calum was ranked #176 and Timothy #535 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Calum was ranked #432 and Timothy #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Calum was ranked #339 and Timothy #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Calum was ranked #1675 and Timothy #382 among boys in England and Wales.
Calum and Timothy over time
Calum and Timothy appear together in 3 published lists, across 90 years of shared records. Timothy held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Calum in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Timothy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Calum 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Calum and Timothy changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1675 and #382.
- Longest-running competitions
Calum and Timothy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 34 years, from 1992 to 2025, ending at #432 and #329.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Calum #91 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #91 and #82 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #1675 and #382.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1992–2025
Calum held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Timothy in 19.
Highest recorded here: Calum #44 in 2006, Timothy #76 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Calum #432, Timothy #329.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Calum held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Timothy in 17.
Highest recorded here: Calum #91 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Calum #1675, Timothy #382.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Calum held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Timothy in 6.
Highest recorded here: Calum #21 in 2006, Timothy #75 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Calum #339, 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
| Field | Calum | 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (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); Calum does not have one recorded yet.
- Calum has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Timothy.
- A meaning is recorded for Timothy; Calum doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Calum
Popularity journey
First recorded1992
First recorded at #298 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1992 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #21 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2006 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #432 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