Jonathan vs Timothy
Jonathan 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2019, Jonathan was ranked #57 and Timothy #518 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2005, Jonathan was ranked #83 and Timothy #78 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2005, Jonathan was ranked #86 and Timothy #100 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #223 and Timothy #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #302 and Timothy #382 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #305 and Timothy #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #352 and Timothy #535 among boys in Scotland.
Jonathan and Timothy over time
Jonathan and Timothy appear together in 6 published lists, across 246 years of shared records. Jonathan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Timothy 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.
Timothy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Jonathan 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 2004, Jonathan moved ahead of Timothy in New Zealand · Boys — #85 and #83 the year before became #66 and #91.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jonathan and Timothy changed places 7 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1957 and 2005, ending at #86 and #100.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 43 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jonathan and Timothy averaged 35.1 places apart, ending at #83 and #78.
- Longest-running competitions
Jonathan and Timothy were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 43 years, from 1963 to 2005, ending at #83 and #78.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jonathan #39 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Timothy in 11.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #18 in 1981, Timothy #26 in 1964.
The order changed in 2025: Jonathan moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #187 and #187; by 2025 that had become #223 and #329.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #223, Timothy #329.
New Zealand · Boys48 shared years, 1957–2005
Jonathan held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Timothy in 39.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #15 in 1982, Timothy #10 in 1981.
The order changed in 2004: Jonathan moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #85 and #83; by 2004 that had become #66 and #91.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Jonathan #86, Timothy #100.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys43 shared years, 1963–2005
Jonathan held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Timothy in 41.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #41 in 1980, Timothy #11 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Jonathan #83, Timothy #78.
Norway · Boys36 shared years, 1958–2019
Jonathan held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Timothy in 2.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #32 in 2011, Timothy #413 in 1988.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Jonathan #57, Timothy #518.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Timothy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #39 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #302, Timothy #382.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Timothy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #20 in 1998, Timothy #75 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #305, 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 | Jonathan | 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 | 3 | 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 | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Timothy has a recorded origin (Greek); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Jonathan and Timothy both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Timothy; Jonathan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Jonathan
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #371 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1957–2013
Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in New Zealand, in 1982 (recorded 1957–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #93 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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