Ian vs Timothy
Ian and Timothy compared 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 1989, Ian was ranked #78 and Timothy #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, Ian was ranked #79 and Timothy #19 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Ian was ranked #348 and Timothy #249 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Ian was ranked #262 and Timothy #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2019, Ian was ranked #376 and Timothy #518 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Ian was ranked #585 and Timothy #418 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ian was ranked #619 and Timothy #535 among boys in Scotland.
Ian and Timothy over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Ian and Timothy over time
Ian and Timothy appear together in 6 published lists, across 217 years of shared records. Timothy held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Ian in 2.
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.
Ian reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Timothy in 2. 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 1969, Timothy moved ahead of Ian in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #23 and #25 the year before became #27 and #25.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ian and Timothy changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1957 and 2019, ending at #376 and #518.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 38 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Ian and Timothy averaged 28.6 places apart, ending at #78 and #15.
- Longest-running competitions
Ian and Timothy were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #585 and #418.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Ian #138 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Ian held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Timothy in 23.
Highest recorded here: Ian #24 in 1990, Timothy #26 in 1964.
The order changed in 2025: Ian moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #275 and #187; by 2025 that had become #262 and #329.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ian #262, Timothy #329.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys38 shared years, 1952–1989
Ian held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Timothy in 21.
Highest recorded here: Ian #9 in 1954, Timothy #11 in 1984.
The order changed in 1969: Timothy moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #23 and #25; by 1969 that had become #27 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Ian #78, Timothy #15.
Norway · Boys37 shared years, 1957–2019
Ian held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Timothy in 5.
Highest recorded here: Ian #277 in 2011, Timothy #413 in 1988.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Ian #376, Timothy #518.
New Zealand · Boys32 shared years, 1954–1985
Ian held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Timothy in 17.
Highest recorded here: Ian #10 in 1955, Timothy #10 in 1981.
The order changed in 1969: Timothy moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #25 and #28; by 1969 that had become #33 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Ian #79, Timothy #19.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ian held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Timothy in 30.
Highest recorded here: Ian #138 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ian #585, Timothy #418.
Northern Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 1997–2023
Ian held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Timothy in 16.
Highest recorded here: Ian #118 in 1999, Timothy #75 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ian #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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Ian
Pairs where Ian shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ian vs Keith
Ian and Keith changed places 18 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #262 and #577.
Ian · Keith · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Ian vs Ciaran
Ian and Ciaran changed places 13 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #262 and #372.
Ian · Ciaran · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Ian vs Noel
Ian and Noel changed places 13 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #262 and #402.
Ian · Noel · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Gary vs Ian
Gary and Ian changed places 12 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2024, ending at #785 and #275.
Gary · Ian · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other comparisons involving Timothy
Pairs where Timothy shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Timothy vs Calum
In 1996 they stood at #82 and #91 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #418 and #3256.
Timothy · Calum · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Craig vs Timothy
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #82 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #1705 and #418.
Craig · Timothy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Mitchell vs Timothy
In 1996 they stood at #79 and #82 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #1538 and #418.
Mitchell · Timothy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Shane vs Timothy
In 1996 they stood at #74 and #82 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #1153 and #418.
Shane · Timothy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.
- Frank vs Vidar
Frank and Vidar changed places 36 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #459 and #478.
Frank · Vidar · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Helge vs Rolf
Helge and Rolf changed places 35 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #352 and #437.
Helge · Rolf · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Stein vs Arild
Stein and Arild changed places 34 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2014, ending at #452 and #408.
Stein · Arild · 67 shared years, 1945–2014 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Inger vs Kari
Inger and Kari changed places 33 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #292 and #222.
Inger · Kari · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Ian | Timothy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | An Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Iain, itself from Latin Iohannes — ultimately from the same Hebrew root as John. | From Greek Timotheos, literally 'honouring God', combining 'timao' (to honour) with 'theos' (god). Saint Timothy accompanied the Apostle Paul on missionary journeys. |
| Origin | Hebrew, via Scottish Gaelic transmission | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈiː.ən/ | /ˈtɪm.ə.θi/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #262 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ian is recorded with a Hebrew, via Scottish Gaelic transmission origin, while Timothy is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Ian has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Timothy.
- Ian'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
Ian
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #351 among boys in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1989
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1989).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #585 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