Timothy is a masculine given name of Greek origin. It is derived from the Greek word "timōn", which means "honoring" or "respecting". The name Timothy was borne by several important figures in early Christian history, including Saint Timothy, who was a companion of the Apostle Paul and is mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible.
The name Timothy has been used throughout history, with some notable bearers including Timothy Dalton, the English actor best known for playing James Bond in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill; Timothy Leary, an American psychologist known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs; and Timothy Olyphant, an American actor known for his roles in Deadwood and Justified.
In terms of its popularity, Timothy has been a popular name throughout the 20th century in English-speaking countries. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, Timothy was among the top 100 most popular names for boys every year between 1940 and 1998, with its peak popularity occurring in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Today, it remains a widely used name but has fallen slightly in popularity in recent years.
Overall, Timothy is a classic and traditional masculine given name of Greek origin that has been used throughout history by many notable figures. Its meaning of "honoring" or "respecting" makes it a strong and meaningful choice for parents looking for a name with positive associations.
The name Timothy has had a varied history of popularity in the United States over the past few decades, with some years seeing more births than others. In the early to mid-20th century, Timothy was quite popular, with the highest number of births occurring in 1958 with 10 newborns sharing this name.
However, after a peak in popularity in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the number of Timothy births began to decline. Between 1965 and 1975, there were fewer than 10 Timothy births per year on average, with some years seeing as few as 5 newborn boys named Timothy.
This trend continued into the late 1980s, although there were a few notable spikes in popularity during this time. In 1980 and 1981, there were 8 and 9 Timothy births respectively, indicating that the name was still being chosen for some newborn boys despite its overall decline in popularity.
Overall, between 1952 and 1988, there were a total of 113 babies named Timothy born in the United States. While this may seem like a relatively low number over such a long period, it is important to remember that these statistics only represent a small fraction of all births during this time.
Despite its ups and downs in popularity, Timothy remains a classic and timeless name choice for boys. Whether you're looking for a name with a strong historical precedent or one that has stood the test of time, Timothy is certainly worth considering.