Tim

Tim is a masculine given name, commonly used as a shortened form of Timothy. It derives from the Greek name Timotheos, meaning “honoring God.” In English-speaking countries, Tim is widely used as both a nickname and an accepted given name in its own right. While often linked to Timothy, Tim can also be used independently without reference to a longer form.

The name Tim has a long history in English-speaking cultures and remains common in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. It is typically chosen for its casual, approachable feel and is prevalent in informal contexts, whereas Timothy tends to be used in more formal or official settings.

Notable people named Tim include Tim Berners-Lee, a British computer scientist and inventor of the World Wide Web; Tim Cook, an American business executive and CEO of Apple Inc.; Tim Allen, an American actor and comedian; Tim Burton, an American filmmaker; Tim Roth, an English actor; Tim Sweeney, an American game programmer and CEO of Epic Games; Tim Kaine, an American politician and U.S. Senator; and Tim Lincecum, an American former professional baseball pitcher. These individuals illustrate the name’s cross-disciplinary presence in technology, entertainment, sport, and politics.

In fiction and media, the name Tim has been used for various characters, reflecting its status as a common, approachable English name. See also Timothy, the longer form from which Tim is derived.