Rex vs Timothy
Rex 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 1960, Rex was ranked #98 and Timothy #42 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Rex was ranked #520 and Timothy #187 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Rex was ranked #216 and Timothy #382 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Rex was ranked #352 and Timothy #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Rex was ranked #382 and Timothy #535 among boys in Scotland.
Rex and Timothy over time
Rex and Timothy appear together in 2 published lists, across 41 years of shared records. Timothy held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Rex in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 2 of those lists, and Rex 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Rex held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Timothy in 18.
Highest recorded here: Rex #142 in 2021, Timothy #82 in 1996.
The order changed in 2014: Rex moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #322 and #299; by 2014 that had become #267 and #274.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Rex #216, Timothy #382.
Republic of Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 2009–2024
Rex held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Timothy in 12.
Highest recorded here: Rex #516 in 2023, Timothy #147 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Rex #520, Timothy #187.
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 | Rex | 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 | /ˈtɪm.ə.θi/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #216 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Timothy has a recorded origin (Greek); Rex does not have one recorded yet.
- Rex has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Timothy.
- A meaning is recorded for Timothy; Rex doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Rex
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #64 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1960
Highest recorded position: #64 among boys in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1960).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #216 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys