Timothy
Meaning of Timothy
Timothy comes from the Greek name Timotheos, formed from timē, "honor," and theos, "god." Its meaning is usually given as "honoring God" or "honored by God." It is pronounced TIM-uh-thee.
In the New Testament, Timothy is a companion of the Apostle Paul, and the letters 1 and 2 Timothy are addressed to him. He is venerated as a saint. The short form Tim is familiar from Tiny Tim in Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. Well-known bearers include British actors Timothy Dalton, the fourth James Bond, and Timothy Spall.
In the U.S., Timothy rose from 253rd in 1936 to 11th in 1960, its highest rank, which it reached again in 1966 and 1967. A record 30,783 babies were named Timothy in 1959. It is much less common today, ranking 203rd in 2025 with 1,734 babies.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as TIM-uh-thee (/ˈtɪməθi/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Timothy
| American psychologist and author Timothy Leary became a polarizing advocate of psychedelic drugs during the 1960s and 70s, praised by admirers, denounced by President Nixon, and arrested 36 times. |
| Timothy Ludwig Pflueger was a prominent architect and interior designer known for his influential works in the San Francisco Bay Area during the early 20th century. |
| Timothy Dalton is a British actor best known as the fourth James Bond, starring in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill in the late 1980s. |
| Timothy Laurence is a retired British Royal Navy officer and the husband of Anne, Princess Royal, sister of King Charles III. |
| Timothy Gudsell is a retired New Zealand track and road cyclist who turned professional in 2007, last rode for PureBlack Racing, and has run a cycling tour company since retiring in 2012. |
| Timothy Leonard Spall is an English actor known for character roles on stage and screen, and he was appointed an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000. |
| Timothy Ray Brown, also known as "The Berlin Patient," was the first person considered cured of HIV/AIDS and played a significant role in advancing research for a cure. |
| Timothy Omundson is an American actor best known for supporting roles in Judging Amy, Xena Warrior Princess, Psych, Galavant, and Supernatural. |
| Timothy Francis Clement-Jones, Baron Clement-Jones, is a Liberal Democrat peer known for his role as a spokesman for the digital economy in the House of Lords. |
| Timothy Zahn is an American science fiction and fantasy author best known for Star Wars novels like the Thrawn trilogy and for his original series and short fiction. |
