Timothy vs Troy
Timothy and Troycompared 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 1993, Timothy was ranked #25 and Troy #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2005, Timothy was ranked #100 and Troy #85 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Timothy was ranked #304 and Troy #270 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2019, Timothy was ranked #518 and Troy #315 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Timothy was ranked #329 and Troy #468 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Timothy was ranked #382 and Troy #729 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Timothy was ranked #535 and Troy #727 among boys in Scotland.
Timothy and Troy over time
Timothy and Troy appear together in 6 published lists, across 174 years of shared records. Timothy held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Troy 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.
Timothy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Troy in 2. 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 2004, Troy moved ahead of Timothy in New Zealand · Boys — #72 and #78 the year before became #91 and #84.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Timothy and Troy changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #382 and #729.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Timothy and Troy averaged 30.7 places apart, ending at #25 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Timothy and Troy were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 30 years, from 1964 to 1993, ending at #25 and #96.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Timothy #82 in 1996, Troy #181 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys52 shared years, 1968–2025
Timothy held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Troy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Timothy #31 in 1968, Troy #185 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Timothy #329, Troy #468.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys30 shared years, 1964–1993
Timothy held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Troy in 4.
Highest recorded here: Timothy #11 in 1984, Troy #27 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Timothy #25, Troy #96.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Timothy held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Troy in 7.
Highest recorded here: Timothy #82 in 1996, Troy #181 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Timothy #382, Troy #729.
New Zealand · Boys28 shared years, 1973–2005
Timothy held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Troy in 2.
Highest recorded here: Timothy #13 in 1982, Troy #55 in 1993.
The order changed in 2004: Troy moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #72 and #78; by 2004 that had become #91 and #84.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Timothy #100, Troy #85.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1997–2020
Timothy held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Troy in 5.
Highest recorded here: Timothy #75 in 2000, Troy #158 in 1999.
The order changed in 2020: Troy moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #209 and #418; by 2020 that had become #304 and #270.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Timothy #304, Troy #270.
Norway · Boys12 shared years, 2004–2019
Timothy held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Troy in 12.
Highest recorded here: Timothy #429 in 2004, Troy #223 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Timothy #518, Troy #315.
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 | Timothy | Troy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Greek Timotheos, literally 'honouring God', combining 'timao' (to honour) with 'theos' (god). Saint Timothy accompanied the Apostle Paul on missionary journeys. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈtɪm.ə.θi/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| 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 #329 (2025) | Norway · Boys #443 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Timothy has a recorded origin (Greek); Troy does not have one recorded yet.
- Timothy has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Troy.
- A meaning is recorded for Timothy; Troy 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
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
Troy
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–1993
Highest recorded position: #27 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1971 (recorded 1964–1993).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #443 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys