Harry vs Timothy
Harry 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Harry was ranked #13 and Timothy #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Harry was ranked #20 and Timothy #382 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Harry was ranked #25 and Timothy #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Harry was ranked #31 and Timothy #535 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2005, Harry was ranked #43 and Timothy #100 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2005, Harry was ranked #46 and Timothy #78 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2019, Harry was ranked #431 and Timothy #518 among boys in Norway.
Harry and Timothy over time
Harry and Timothy appear together in 6 published lists, across 163 years of shared records. Harry held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Timothy in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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, Harry 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2000, Harry moved ahead of Timothy in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #58 and #44 the year before became #53 and #54.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Harry and Timothy changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1957 and 2019, ending at #431 and #518.
- Longest-running competitions
Harry and Timothy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 57 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #25 and #329.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #87 and #83 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #13 and #339.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1965–2025
Harry held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Timothy in 29.
Highest recorded here: Harry #6 in 2018, Timothy #29 in 1965.
The order changed in 1998: Harry moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #105 and #88; by 1998 that had become #100 and #101.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harry #25, Timothy #329.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Harry held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Timothy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Harry #1 in 2011, Timothy #82 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harry #20, Timothy #382.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Harry held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Timothy in 1.
Highest recorded here: Harry #4 in 2012, Timothy #75 in 2000.
The order changed in 1998: Harry moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #87 and #83; by 1998 that had become #68 and #109.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harry #13, Timothy #339.
Norway · Boys24 shared years, 1957–2019
Harry held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Timothy in 7.
Highest recorded here: Harry #101 in 1959, Timothy #413 in 1988.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Harry #431, Timothy #518.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys13 shared years, 1992–2005
Harry held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Timothy in 7.
Highest recorded here: Harry #38 in 2004, Timothy #19 in 1992.
The order changed in 2000: Harry moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #58 and #44; by 2000 that had become #53 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Harry #46, Timothy #78.
New Zealand · Boys12 shared years, 1994–2005
Harry held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Timothy in 6.
Highest recorded here: Harry #37 in 2004, Timothy #29 in 1994.
The order changed in 2000: Harry moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #66 and #51; by 2000 that had become #58 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Harry #43, Timothy #100.
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 | Harry | Timothy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A diminutive/pet form, inheriting its meaning from Henry — 'home ruler' — and functioning, in modern times, as a nickname for both Henry and names beginning with 'Har-'. During the Middle Ages in England, Henry was generally rendered as Harry or Herry in English pronunciation. | From Greek Timotheos, literally 'honouring God', combining 'timao' (to honour) with 'theos' (god). Saint Timothy accompanied the Apostle Paul on missionary journeys. |
| Origin | English, medieval form/diminutive of Henry | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhæri/ | /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, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #25 (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
- Harry is recorded with a English, medieval form/diminutive of Henry origin, while Timothy is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Harry has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Timothy.
- Harry'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, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Harry
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #70 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #39 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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