Shane vs Timothy
Shane 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1996, Shane was ranked #83 and Timothy #35 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1998, Shane was ranked #90 and Timothy #42 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Shane was ranked #152 and Timothy #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Shane was ranked #216 and Timothy #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Shane was ranked #857 and Timothy #382 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Shane was ranked #478 and Timothy #535 among boys in Scotland.
Shane and Timothy over time
Shane and Timothy appear together in 5 published lists, across 205 years of shared records. Shane held the stronger position in more years in 3 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 1972, Shane moved ahead of Timothy in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #48 and #38 the year before became #31 and #44.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Shane and Timothy changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1955 and 1998, ending at #90 and #42.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 43 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Shane and Timothy averaged 16.8 places apart, ending at #83 and #35.
- Longest-running competitions
Shane and Timothy were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 43 years, from 1954 to 1996, ending at #83 and #35.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Shane #74 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #74 and #82 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #857 and #382.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Shane held the stronger position in 54 of those years, Timothy in 8.
Highest recorded here: Shane #3 in 1996, Timothy #26 in 1964.
The order changed in 1972: Shane moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #48 and #38; by 1972 that had become #31 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Shane #152, Timothy #329.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys43 shared years, 1954–1996
Shane held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Timothy in 33.
Highest recorded here: Shane #15 in 1971, Timothy #11 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Shane #83, Timothy #35.
New Zealand · Boys43 shared years, 1955–1998
Shane held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Timothy in 25.
Highest recorded here: Shane #12 in 1968, Timothy #10 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Shane #90, Timothy #42.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Shane held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Timothy in 13.
Highest recorded here: Shane #74 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.
The order changed in 2012: Timothy moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #279 and #298; by 2012 that had become #363 and #288.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Shane #857, Timothy #382.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Shane held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Timothy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Shane #41 in 2002, Timothy #75 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Shane #216, 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 | Shane | Timothy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | An Anglicized form of Seán, ultimately from Hebrew elements meaning 'Yahweh' and 'gracious' — the same root tradition as John. Popularised in America by the 1953 western film Shane. | From Greek Timotheos, literally 'honouring God', combining 'timao' (to honour) with 'theos' (god). Saint Timothy accompanied the Apostle Paul on missionary journeys. |
| Origin | Hebrew, via Irish Seán | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈʃeɪn/ | /ˈtɪm.ə.θi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Seán, Sean, Shaun, Shawn | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Shane is recorded with a Hebrew, via Irish Seán origin, while Timothy is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Shane has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Timothy.
- Shane'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.
- The available evidence gives Shane a "high" Data Confidence level and Timothy a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Shane
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #72 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1996 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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