What Does the Name Timothy Mean?

Timothy is a boy's name of Greek origin meaning “honoring God.”

Updated June 2026

Name	Timothy
Gender	male
Origin	Greek
Meaning	honoring God
Variants	Tim, Timmy, Timoteo, Timothee, Tymoteusz
Popularity	A US top-20 name through the 1950s-1970s; it has since fallen but remains in steady, moderate use.

The meaning and origin of Timothy

The name Timothy means “honoring God” and has Greek origins. From the Greek name Timotheos, combining 'time' (honor) and 'theos' (God), meaning 'honoring God.' It was popularized by the New Testament companion of Paul and became widespread in the English-speaking world after the Protestant Reformation.

Variants and related names

Timothy is related to several other names you may recognize: Tim, Timmy, Timoteo, Timothee, Tymoteusz. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.

How popular is the name Timothy?

A US top-20 name through the 1950s-1970s; it has since fallen but remains in steady, moderate use.

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