Riley vs Timothy
Riley 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 2005, Riley was ranked #20 and Timothy #78 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2005, Riley was ranked #29 and Timothy #100 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Riley was ranked #83 and Timothy #418 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Riley was ranked #85 and Timothy #535 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Riley was ranked #108 and Timothy #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Riley was ranked #188 and Timothy #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Riley 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.
Riley and Timothy over time
Riley and Timothy appear together in 4 published lists, across 87 years of shared records. Riley held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Timothy in 0.
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 4 of those lists, and Riley 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Riley moved into the top 50 at #36 in 2000 as Timothy fell out of it to #54, having been #44 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2002, Riley moved ahead of Timothy in England and Wales · Boys — #147 and #144 the year before became #122 and #162.
- Longest-running competitions
Riley and Timothy were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #83 and #418.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Riley held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Timothy in 6.
Highest recorded here: Riley #8 in 2012, Timothy #82 in 1996.
The order changed in 2002: Riley moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #147 and #144; by 2002 that had become #122 and #162.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Riley #83, Timothy #418.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 2001–2024
Riley held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Timothy in 5.
Highest recorded here: Riley #9 in 2012, Timothy #92 in 2001.
The order changed in 2006: Riley moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #178 and #113; by 2006 that had become #145 and #188.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Riley #108, Timothy #339.
Republic of Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 2002–2025
Riley held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Timothy in 6.
Highest recorded here: Riley #101 in 2012, Timothy #113 in 2004.
The order changed in 2010: Riley moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #214 and #214; by 2010 that had become #163 and #183.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Riley #188, Timothy #329.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys10 shared years, 1996–2005
Riley held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Timothy in 4.
Highest recorded here: Riley #19 in 2004, Timothy #35 in 1996.
The order changed in 2000: Riley moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #56 and #44; by 2000 that had become #36 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Riley #20, Timothy #78.
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 Riley
Pairs where Riley shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Amelia vs Riley
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Amelia #1 in 2019, Riley #29 in 2021.
Amelia · Riley · 17 shared years, 2004–2023 · Peaked in the same years
- Harry vs Riley
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Harry #1 in 2011, Riley #8 in 2012.
Harry · Riley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Isla vs Riley
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2020, Riley #29 in 2021.
Isla · Riley · 17 shared years, 2004–2023 · Peaked in the same years
- Liam vs Riley
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Liam #1 in 2010, Riley #6 in 2008.
Liam · Riley · 24 shared years, 2000–2023 · Peaked in the same years
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 — one took the other's place near the top.
- Sean vs Adam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam moved into the top 50 at #9 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Adam · 61 shared years, 1965–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Charlie vs Oisin
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Oisin fell out of it to #247, having been #11 the year before.
Charlie · Oisin · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Charlie
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Charlie · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Liam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam moved into the top 50 at #11 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Liam · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists
Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Thomas vs Edward
Over 70 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Edward fell — from #44 and #48 in 1952 to #13 and #75 in 2025.
Thomas · Edward · 70 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alexander vs Edward
Over 67 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Edward fell — from #80 and #48 in 1952 to #22 and #75 in 2025.
Alexander · Edward · 67 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Thomas vs Andrew
Over 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #44 and #51 in 1952 to #8 and #89 in 2016.
Thomas · Andrew · 63 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
- Andrew vs Alexander
Over 60 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #51 and #80 in 1952 to #89 and #9 in 2016.
Andrew · Alexander · 60 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 2000s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2000 and 2009.
- 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 | Riley | Timothy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | An Irish surname (variant of Reilly) or an English surname meaning 'rye clearing' — its use as a first name is relatively modern, dating from the 1980s-90s. | From Greek Timotheos, literally 'honouring God', combining 'timao' (to honour) with 'theos' (god). Saint Timothy accompanied the Apostle Paul on missionary journeys. |
| Origin | Irish/English (surname origin), dual tradition | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹaɪ.li/ | /ˈtɪm.ə.θi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 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, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #66 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Riley is recorded with a Irish/English (surname origin), dual tradition origin, while Timothy is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Riley has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Timothy.
- Riley'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, NZ.
How each name got here
Riley
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #1755 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2008 (recorded 1996–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #186 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
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