Namewise

Rioghan vs Timothy

Rioghan 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.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2014, Rioghan was ranked #550 and Timothy #175 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Rioghan was ranked #202 and Timothy #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Rioghan was ranked #5119 and Timothy #382 among boys in England and Wales.

Rioghan and Timothy over time

Rioghan and Timothy appear together in 1 published list, across 8 years of shared records. Timothy held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Rioghan in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

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

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 20002014

    Rioghan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Timothy in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Rioghan #347 in 2000, Timothy #116 in 2000.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2014: Rioghan #550, Timothy #175.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Rioghan, Timothy
FieldRioghanTimothy
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedFrom Greek Timotheos, literally 'honouring God', combining 'timao' (to honour) with 'theos' (god). Saint Timothy accompanied the Apostle Paul on missionary journeys.
OriginNot yet recordedGreek
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈtɪm.ə.θi/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, IEAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorthern Ireland · Boys #202 (2024)Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Timothy has a recorded origin (Greek); Rioghan does not have one recorded yet.
  • Rioghan has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Timothy.
  • A meaning is recorded for Timothy; Rioghan doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.

How each name got here

Rioghan

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded2000

    First recorded at #347 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 2000 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  2. Highest recorded2004–2024

    Highest recorded position: #202 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 2004–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #202 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2024.

    Northern Ireland · Boys

Timothy

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–2005

    Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New Zealand, in 1981 (recorded 1954–2005).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys