Meaning, origin, history
Tim is a popular boys' name of English origin. It is short for Timothy, which itself is derived from the Latin name "Timotheus". This Latin name was taken from the Greek name "Timaios", meaning 'honoring God'. The Greek name is composed of the elements "tim-, meaning 'honor', and -eus/-ios, meaning '-like' or '-ly'.
The name Timothy appears in the New Testament of the Bible, referring to a companion of Saint Paul who was sent by him to the Corinthians. This biblical reference has contributed significantly to the popularity of the name Timothy, and consequently Tim, throughout Christian communities.
In terms of history, the name Tim has been used since medieval times, although its usage peaked during the mid-20th century. It has consistently ranked among the most popular boys' names in English-speaking countries over the past few decades. In fact, according to Social Security data from 2019, Tim was the 578th most popular name for boys born that year in the United States.
While it is still widely used today, the popularity of the name Tim has seen some fluctuations over time. It reached its peak popularity during the mid-20th century but has since experienced a slight decline. Despite this, it remains a timeless classic that continues to be chosen by parents for their newborn sons.
In summary, Tim is an English boys' name with Latin and Greek roots, meaning 'honoring God'. It emerged from biblical references and has been in use since medieval times, experiencing peaks in popularity during the mid-20th century. Today, it remains a popular choice for boys' names despite some fluctuations over time.
In numbers
Popularity of the name Tim since 1880
Total births
188
Total since 1880
Peak year
1970
16 births
in 1976
5
Recent births (5 years)
5-year trend
0%
→
vs previous 5 years