Robert vs Timothy
Robert 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Robert was ranked #80 and Timothy #535 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2003, Robert was ranked #95 and Timothy #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Robert was ranked #93 and Timothy #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2005, Robert was ranked #95 and Timothy #100 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Robert was ranked #104 and Timothy #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Robert was ranked #164 and Timothy #418 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2019, Robert was ranked #254 and Timothy #518 among boys in Norway.
Robert 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.
Robert and Timothy over time
Robert and Timothy appear together in 6 published lists, across 265 years of shared records. Robert held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Timothy 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.
Robert reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Timothy in 1. 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 1979, Timothy moved ahead of Robert in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #15 and #22 the year before became #18 and #15.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Robert and Timothy changed places 12 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 2005, ending at #95 and #100.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 52 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Robert and Timothy averaged 18.7 places apart, ending at #95 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Robert and Timothy were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #164 and #418.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Robert #30 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #26 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #104 and #329.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Robert held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Timothy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Robert #12 in 1978, Timothy #26 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Robert #104, Timothy #329.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys52 shared years, 1952–2003
Robert held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Timothy in 25.
Highest recorded here: Robert #3 in 1952, Timothy #11 in 1984.
The order changed in 1979: Timothy moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #15 and #22; by 1979 that had become #18 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Robert #95, Timothy #86.
New Zealand · Boys52 shared years, 1954–2005
Robert held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Timothy in 17.
Highest recorded here: Robert #5 in 1954, Timothy #10 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Robert #95, Timothy #100.
Norway · Boys41 shared years, 1957–2019
Robert held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Timothy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Robert #25 in 1974, Timothy #413 in 1988.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Robert #254, Timothy #518.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Robert held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Timothy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Robert #30 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Robert #164, Timothy #418.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Robert held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Timothy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Robert #35 in 1997, Timothy #75 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Robert #93, 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.
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 Robert
Pairs where Robert shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Robert vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #30 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #164 and #716.
Robert · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Robert vs Raymond
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #104 and #509.
Robert · Raymond · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Robert vs Magnus
In 1945 they stood at #126 and #125 in Norway · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #363 and #17.
Robert · Magnus · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Robert vs Alfred
In 1945 they stood at #126 and #127 in Norway · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #363 and #26.
Robert · Alfred · 75 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
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 — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Sofia
Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- 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 | Robert | Timothy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce. | From Greek Timotheos, literally 'honouring God', combining 'timao' (to honour) with 'theos' (god). Saint Timothy accompanied the Apostle Paul on missionary journeys. |
| Origin | Germanic | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹɑb.əɹt/ | /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, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #104 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Robert is recorded with a Germanic origin, while Timothy is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Robert has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Timothy.
- Robert'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, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Robert
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #164 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 #418 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys