Dylan vs Timothy
Dylan 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, Dylan was ranked #19 and Timothy #78 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2005, Dylan was ranked #22 and Timothy #100 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #64 and Timothy #382 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Dylan was ranked #69 and Timothy #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #104 and Timothy #535 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #154 and Timothy #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Dylan and Timothy over time
Dylan and Timothy appear together in 5 published lists, across 161 years of shared records. Dylan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Timothy in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 5 of those lists, and Dylan 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1993, Dylan moved ahead of Timothy in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #23 and #19 the year before became #18 and #25.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Dylan and Timothy averaged 41.7 places apart, ending at #19 and #78.
- Longest-running competitions
Dylan and Timothy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 55 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #69 and #329.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Dylan #7 in 2001, Timothy #75 in 2000.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1969–2025
Dylan held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Timothy in 21.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 1998, Timothy #34 in 1969.
The order changed in 1992: Dylan moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #85 and #78; by 1992 that had become #70 and #81.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dylan #69, Timothy #329.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Timothy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #16 in 2010, Timothy #82 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #64, Timothy #382.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Timothy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 2001, Timothy #75 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #154, Timothy #339.
New Zealand · Boys26 shared years, 1980–2005
Dylan held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Timothy in 12.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 1992, Timothy #10 in 1981.
The order changed in 1992: Dylan moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #30 and #22; by 1992 that had become #7 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Dylan #22, Timothy #100.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys23 shared years, 1983–2005
Dylan held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Timothy in 10.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #12 in 1995, Timothy #11 in 1984.
The order changed in 1993: Dylan moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #23 and #19; by 1993 that had become #18 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Dylan #19, Timothy #78.
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 | Dylan | Timothy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with the sea/tide — popularly glossed as 'great tide' or 'born from the sea', reflecting the mythological figure's role. Some scholars theorise the figure may reflect an earlier, otherwise unattested Celtic sea god — treat as a proposed origin, not settled fact. | From Greek Timotheos, literally 'honouring God', combining 'timao' (to honour) with 'theos' (god). Saint Timothy accompanied the Apostle Paul on missionary journeys. |
| Origin | Welsh | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɪlən/ | /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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #69 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Dylan is recorded with a Welsh origin, while Timothy is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Dylan has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Timothy.
- Dylan'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, NZ.
How each name got here
Dylan
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #246 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1980–2020
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1980–2020).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #69 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