boys' name · peaked 1960

Tim

A diminutive of the male given names Timothy and Timon .

Every Tim since 1880 — 83,546 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
123418801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls
Rank 2025
#3,230
among boys
Babies in 2025
37
named Tim
Peak year
1960
6,944 babies
All-time total
83,546
since 1880

The story of Tim

Tim is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #3,230 in 2025 with 37 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 83,546 American babies have been named Tim. Its peak came in 1960, when 6,944 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1960s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Tim stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Tim year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 37 #3,230
2024 54 #2,520
2023 37 #3,285
2022 32 #3,607
2021 42 #2,968
2020 32 #3,482
2019 57 #2,389
2018 57 #2,353
2017 53 #2,444
2016 68 #2,083
2015 61 #2,228
2014 75 #1,942
2013 51 #2,456
2012 41 #2,901
2011 48 #2,586
2010 65 #2,094
2009 69 #2,032
2008 70 #2,026
2007 77 #1,873
2006 78 #1,786
2005 84 #1,633
2004 60 #2,019
2003 88 #1,491
2002 79 #1,569
2001 81 #1,513
2000 91 #1,388
1995 51 #1,753
1990 77 #1,268
1985 101 #905
1980 165 #677
1975 5 #10,492 327 #436
1970 16 #3,857 1,324 #199
1965 14 #3,532 3,718 #97
1960 13 #3,669 6,931 #60
1955 1,144 #212
1950 5 #6,032 754 #242
1945 779 #192
1940 333 #308
1935 131 #500
1930 61 #839
1925 60 #868
1920 64 #851
1915 40 #1,014
1910 34 #478
1905 19 #546
1900 22 #516
1895 15 #554
1890 17 #455
1885 16 #477
1880 12 #563

Famous people named Tim

  1. Tim Cook Businessperson · b. 1960
  2. Tim Berners-Lee Computer scientist · b. 1955
  3. Tim Burton Film director · b. 1958
  4. Tim Curry Actor · b. 1946
  5. Tim Robbins Actor · b. 1958

Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Tim mean?

A diminutive of the male given names Timothy and Timon .

How popular is the name Tim in 2025?

Tim ranked #3,230 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 37 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Tim?

83,546 babies have been named Tim in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Tim most popular?

Tim peaked in 1960, when 6,944 newborns received the name.

Is Tim a boy or girl name?

Tim is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Tim rising or falling?

Tim is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Tim?

Well-known people named Tim include Tim Cook (businessperson), Tim Berners-Lee (computer scientist), Tim Burton (film director).

Names like Tim

Compare Tim with similar names →