Dean vs Timothy
Dean 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 Zealand · Boys
In 1991, Dean was ranked #92 and Timothy #22 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1999, Dean was ranked #84 and Timothy #44 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Dean was ranked #348 and Timothy #249 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Dean was ranked #432 and Timothy #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Dean was ranked #782 and Timothy #418 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Dean was ranked #727 and Timothy #535 among boys in Scotland.
Dean and Timothy over time
Dean and Timothy appear together in 5 published lists, across 193 years of shared records. Timothy held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Dean in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Dean reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Dean and Timothy changed places 9 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #782 and #418.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 43 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Dean and Timothy averaged 23.6 places apart, ending at #84 and #44.
- Longest-running competitions
Dean and Timothy were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #782 and #418.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Dean #80 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #80 and #82 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #782 and #418.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1966–2025
Dean held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Timothy in 28.
Highest recorded here: Dean #24 in 1993, Timothy #30 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dean #432, Timothy #329.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys43 shared years, 1957–1999
Dean held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Timothy in 42.
Highest recorded here: Dean #26 in 1968, Timothy #11 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Dean #84, Timothy #44.
New Zealand · Boys36 shared years, 1956–1991
Dean held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Timothy in 24.
Highest recorded here: Dean #13 in 1967, Timothy #10 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Dean #92, Timothy #22.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Dean held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Timothy in 23.
Highest recorded here: Dean #80 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.
The order changed in 2011: Timothy moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #292 and #302; by 2011 that had become #341 and #298.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dean #782, Timothy #418.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2023
Dean held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Timothy in 7.
Highest recorded here: Dean #45 in 1997, Timothy #75 in 2000.
The order changed in 2015: Timothy moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #228 and #281; by 2015 that had become #415 and #222.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Dean #348, 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 | Dean | 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 | /ˈtɪm.ə.θi/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 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 #432 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Timothy has a recorded origin (Greek); Dean does not have one recorded yet.
- Dean has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Timothy.
- A meaning is recorded for Timothy; Dean 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
Dean
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #95 among boys in New Zealand in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1956–1991
Highest recorded position: #13 among boys in New Zealand, in 1967 (recorded 1956–1991).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #782 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #418 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys