Timothy vs Zane
Timothy and Zanecompared 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 2005, Timothy was ranked #78 and Zane #88 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2002, Timothy was ranked #82 and Zane #87 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Timothy was ranked #249 and Zane #348 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Timothy was ranked #329 and Zane #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Timothy was ranked #382 and Zane #382 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Timothy was ranked #535 and Zane #382 among boys in Scotland.
Timothy and Zane over time
Timothy and Zane appear together in 3 published lists, across 59 years of shared records. Timothy held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Zane in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Timothy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Zane in none. 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Timothy and Zane changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #382 and #382.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Timothy held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Zane in 3.
Highest recorded here: Timothy #82 in 1996, Zane #233 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Timothy #382, Zane #382.
Republic of Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 2005–2025
Timothy held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Zane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Timothy #126 in 2005, Zane #394 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Timothy #329, Zane #676.
New Zealand · Boys12 shared years, 1987–2002
Timothy held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Zane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Timothy #14 in 1987, Zane #70 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Timothy #82, Zane #87.
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 | Zane |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (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); Zane does not have one recorded yet.
- Timothy has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Zane.
- A meaning is recorded for Timothy; Zane doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Zane
Popularity journey
First recorded1987
First recorded at #100 among boys in New Zealand in 1987 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1987–2002
Highest recorded position: #70 among boys in New Zealand, in 2000 (recorded 1987–2002).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys