Steven vs Timothy
Steven 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, Steven was ranked #77 and Timothy #37 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2000, Steven was ranked #84 and Timothy #54 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Steven was ranked #307 and Timothy #535 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Steven was ranked #829 and Timothy #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Steven was ranked #800 and Timothy #382 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Steven was ranked #414 and Timothy #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2015, Steven was ranked #540 and Timothy #542 among boys in Norway.
Steven and Timothy over time
Steven and Timothy appear together in 6 published lists, across 245 years of shared records. Steven held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Timothy in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Steven 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 Steven in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #18 and #22 the year before became #22 and #15.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Steven and Timothy changed places 11 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2022, ending at #414 and #414.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 49 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Steven and Timothy averaged 17.1 places apart, ending at #84 and #54.
- Longest-running competitions
Steven and Timothy were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 49 years, from 1952 to 2000, ending at #84 and #54.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Steven #73 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #73 and #82 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #800 and #382.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Steven held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Timothy in 42.
Highest recorded here: Steven #57 in 1990, Timothy #26 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Steven #829, Timothy #329.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys49 shared years, 1952–2000
Steven held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Timothy in 22.
Highest recorded here: Steven #12 in 1961, Timothy #11 in 1984.
The order changed in 1979: Timothy moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #18 and #22; by 1979 that had become #22 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Steven #84, Timothy #54.
New Zealand · Boys44 shared years, 1954–1997
Steven held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Timothy in 21.
Highest recorded here: Steven #15 in 1967, Timothy #10 in 1981.
The order changed in 1977: Timothy moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #21 and #23; by 1977 that had become #25 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Steven #77, Timothy #37.
Norway · Boys38 shared years, 1957–2015
Steven held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Timothy in 1.
Highest recorded here: Steven #224 in 1983, Timothy #413 in 1988.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Steven #540, Timothy #542.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Steven held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Timothy in 13.
Highest recorded here: Steven #73 in 1996, Timothy #82 in 1996.
The order changed in 2011: Timothy moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #245 and #302; by 2011 that had become #298 and #298.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Steven #800, Timothy #382.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Steven held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Timothy in 11.
Highest recorded here: Steven #54 in 1998, Timothy #75 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Steven #414, 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 | Steven | 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 | /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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Timothy has a recorded origin (Greek); Steven does not have one recorded yet.
- Steven has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Timothy.
- A meaning is recorded for Timothy; Steven 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
Steven
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #363 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2000
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1961 (recorded 1952–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 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