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Timothy

♂ Boy

Pronounced TIM-uh-thee /ˈtɪm.ə.θi/High

Meaning: Honoring God; from Greek Timotheos: time (honor) + theos (God)High

In 30 seconds: A dignified Greek classic meaning 'honoring God.' The New Testament companion of Saint Paul, two biblical epistles bear his name — giving Timothy deep early-Christian roots.
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Origin HighGreek
MeaningHonoring God; from Greek Timotheos: time (honor) + theos (God)
Peak year1959
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,068,556

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195918802017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Timothy derives from the Greek Τιμόθεος (Timotheos), composed of timē ('honor, worth') and theos ('God'). The most famous biblical Timothy was a companion and disciple of Paul, who called him 'my true son in the faith' (1 Timothy 1:2). The name spread through the Christian world via the Pauline epistles.

Timothy was a popular name in the early Christian church and remained in use through the medieval period. In the United States it was a top-20 boys' name from the 1940s through the 1970s. It has declined since but remains a recognized classic, associated with reliability and scholarship.

Did you know? The Apostle Paul addressed two of his epistles directly to Timothy (1 Timothy and 2 Timothy), making Timothy one of only a handful of individuals to have New Testament books written to them personally.

Variations

TimoteoTimotheeTymothy

Nicknames

TimTimmy

Famous Bearers

  • ★Timothy (Saint) (d. c. 97 CE)
    Companion of the Apostle Paul, bishop of Ephesus, martyr; two New Testament epistles address him.
  • ★Timothy Dalton (b. 1944)
    Welsh actor, the fourth actor to play James Bond.

If you like Timothy…

Nathaniel— long, dignified biblical name with the same classic register
Benjamin— popular biblical classic equally associated with the New Testament world
Jonathan— Old Testament name with the same three-syllable stately feel
Samuel— Hebrew-origin biblical classic equally enduring

Frequently Asked

What does the name Timothy mean?

Timothy means 'honoring God,' from Greek timē (honor) and theos (God). It is the name of Saint Paul's companion in the New Testament.

How do you pronounce Timothy?

Timothy is pronounced TIM-uh-thee (/ˈtɪm.ə.θi/) — three syllables with stress on the first.

Is Timothy a boy or girl name?

Timothy is used exclusively as a boy's name.

How popular is Timothy?

Timothy was a top-20 U.S. boys' name from the 1940s through 1970s and remains in the top 200 today.