Damien vs Timothy
Damien 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 1993, Damien was ranked #94 and Timothy #25 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Damien was ranked #395 and Timothy #249 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Damien was ranked #468 and Timothy #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Damien was ranked #747 and Timothy #382 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Damien was ranked #619 and Timothy #535 among boys in Scotland.
Damien and Timothy over time
Damien and Timothy appear together in 4 published lists, across 137 years of shared records. Timothy held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Damien in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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
Damien and Timothy changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #468 and #329.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Damien and Timothy averaged 42.2 places apart, ending at #94 and #25.
- Longest-running competitions
Damien and Timothy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #468 and #329.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Damien #134 in 1999, Timothy #75 in 2000.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Damien held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Timothy in 39.
Highest recorded here: Damien #34 in 1982, Timothy #26 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Damien #468, Timothy #329.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Damien held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Timothy in 29.
Highest recorded here: Damien #280 in 2003, Timothy #82 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Damien #747, Timothy #382.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys25 shared years, 1969–1993
Damien held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Timothy in 25.
Highest recorded here: Damien #34 in 1974, Timothy #11 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Damien #94, Timothy #25.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1997–2023
Damien held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Timothy in 19.
Highest recorded here: Damien #134 in 1999, Timothy #75 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Damien #395, Timothy #249.
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 | Damien | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #468 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Timothy has a recorded origin (Greek); Damien does not have one recorded yet.
- Damien has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Timothy.
- A meaning is recorded for Timothy; Damien doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Damien
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #75 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 recorded1969–1993
Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1974 (recorded 1969–1993).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #468 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