Jesse vs Timothy
Jesse 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 2005, Jesse was ranked #53 and Timothy #100 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #54 and Timothy #382 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2005, Jesse was ranked #56 and Timothy #78 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #102 and Timothy #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jesse was ranked #141 and Timothy #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #290 and Timothy #535 among boys in Scotland.
Jesse and Timothy over time
Jesse and Timothy appear together in 5 published lists, across 135 years of shared records. Jesse held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Timothy in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 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 Jesse 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 2003, Jesse moved ahead of Timothy in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #72 and #59 the year before became #64 and #86.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jesse and Timothy changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1985 and 2005, ending at #56 and #78.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jesse and Timothy averaged 23.7 places apart, ending at #56 and #78.
- Longest-running competitions
Jesse and Timothy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 42 years, from 1970 to 2025, ending at #141 and #329.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys42 shared years, 1970–2025
Jesse held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Timothy in 34.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #133 in 2023, Timothy #37 in 1970.
The order changed in 2018: Jesse moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #230 and #197; by 2018 that had become #177 and #205.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jesse #141, Timothy #329.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Timothy in 10.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #54 in 2024, Timothy #82 in 1996.
The order changed in 2006: Jesse moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #212 and #204; by 2006 that had become #205 and #226.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #54, Timothy #382.
New Zealand · Boys23 shared years, 1981–2005
Jesse held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Timothy in 8.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #18 in 1990, Timothy #10 in 1981.
The order changed in 1993: Jesse moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #22 and #21; by 1993 that had become #24 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Jesse #53, Timothy #100.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1985–2005
Jesse held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Timothy in 13.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #30 in 1996, Timothy #12 in 1985.
The order changed in 2003: Jesse moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #72 and #59; by 2003 that had become #64 and #86.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Jesse #56, Timothy #78.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Timothy in 9.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #102 in 2024, Timothy #83 in 1997.
The order changed in 2016: Jesse moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #237 and #222; by 2016 that had become #143 and #216.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #102, Timothy #339.
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 | Jesse | 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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Timothy has a recorded origin (Greek); Jesse does not have one recorded yet.
- Jesse has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Timothy.
- A meaning is recorded for Timothy; Jesse 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
Jesse
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #278 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1981–2017
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1981–2017).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 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