Simon vs Timothy
Simon 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 1997, Simon was ranked #83 and Timothy #37 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Simon was ranked #94 and Timothy #42 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2019, Simon was ranked #100 and Timothy #518 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Simon was ranked #244 and Timothy #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Simon was ranked #311 and Timothy #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Simon was ranked #524 and Timothy #382 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Simon was ranked #535 and Timothy #535 among boys in Scotland.
Simon and Timothy over time
Simon and Timothy appear together in 6 published lists, across 242 years of shared records. Timothy held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Simon in 1.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Simon and Timothy changed places 12 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #524 and #382.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Simon and Timothy averaged 26.1 places apart, ending at #524 and #382.
- Longest-running competitions
Simon and Timothy were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 43 years, from 1955 to 1997, ending at #94 and #42.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Simon #87 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Simon held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Timothy in 30.
Highest recorded here: Simon #46 in 1987, Timothy #26 in 1964.
The order changed in 2025: Simon moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #275 and #187; by 2025 that had become #244 and #329.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Simon #244, Timothy #329.
New Zealand · Boys44 shared years, 1954–1997
Simon held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Timothy in 28.
Highest recorded here: Simon #12 in 1976, Timothy #10 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Simon #83, Timothy #37.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys43 shared years, 1955–1997
Simon held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Timothy in 37.
Highest recorded here: Simon #24 in 1970, Timothy #11 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Simon #94, Timothy #42.
Norway · Boys41 shared years, 1957–2019
Simon held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Timothy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Simon #35 in 1992, Timothy #413 in 1988.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Simon #100, Timothy #518.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Simon held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Timothy in 22.
Highest recorded here: Simon #87 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Simon #524, Timothy #382.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1997–2022
Simon held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Timothy in 19.
Highest recorded here: Simon #95 in 2000, Timothy #75 in 2000.
The order changed in 2022: Simon moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #418 and #209; by 2022 that had become #311 and #414.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Simon #311, Timothy #414.
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 | Simon | 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 | Not yet recorded | /ˈtɪm.ə.θi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #159 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Timothy has a recorded origin (Greek); Simon does not have one recorded yet.
- Simon has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Timothy.
- A meaning is recorded for Timothy; Simon doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Simon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #266 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1997
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1954–1997).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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