English form, used in the Authorized Version of the Bible (alongside the Latin form Timotheus), of the Greek name Timotheos, from timē ‘honour’ + theos ‘god’. This was the name of a companion of St Paul; according to tradition, he was stoned to death for denouncing the worship of Diana. It was not used in England before the Reformation but has been in steady use since the 18th century.
Japanese: ‘tall tree’, especially denoting a sacred tree; it is mostly found in eastern Japan. The name originated in Kii province (presently Wakayama prefecture), location of the famous and ancient Ise shrine. The name is also written by some as ‘tall castle’, and is pronounced Takaki in the Ryūkyū Islands.