diff --git a/akka-actor-testkit-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/testkit/typed/Effect.scala b/akka-actor-testkit-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/testkit/typed/Effect.scala
index 663f18d00e..fa37faedfb 100644
--- a/akka-actor-testkit-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/testkit/typed/Effect.scala
+++ b/akka-actor-testkit-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/testkit/typed/Effect.scala
@@ -214,14 +214,20 @@ object Effect {
   }
 
   object TimerScheduled {
+    import akka.util.JavaDurationConverters._
+
     sealed trait TimerMode
     case object FixedRateMode extends TimerMode
+    case class FixedRateModeWithInitialDelay(initialDelay: FiniteDuration) extends TimerMode
     case object FixedDelayMode extends TimerMode
+    case class FixedDelayModeWithInitialDelay(initialDelay: FiniteDuration) extends TimerMode
     case object SingleMode extends TimerMode
 
     /*Java API*/
     def fixedRateMode = FixedRateMode
+    def fixedRateMode(initialDelay: java.time.Duration) = FixedRateModeWithInitialDelay(initialDelay.asScala)
     def fixedDelayMode = FixedDelayMode
+    def fixedDelayMode(initialDelay: java.time.Duration) = FixedDelayModeWithInitialDelay(initialDelay.asScala)
     def singleMode = SingleMode
   }
 
diff --git a/akka-actor-testkit-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/testkit/typed/internal/EffectfulActorContext.scala b/akka-actor-testkit-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/testkit/typed/internal/EffectfulActorContext.scala
index 627ea40c9d..a27054c0f0 100644
--- a/akka-actor-testkit-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/testkit/typed/internal/EffectfulActorContext.scala
+++ b/akka-actor-testkit-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/testkit/typed/internal/EffectfulActorContext.scala
@@ -91,9 +91,15 @@ import scala.reflect.ClassTag
     override def startTimerWithFixedDelay(key: Any, msg: T, delay: FiniteDuration): Unit =
       startTimer(key, msg, delay, Effect.TimerScheduled.FixedDelayMode)
 
+    override def startTimerWithFixedDelay(key: Any, msg: T, initialDelay: FiniteDuration, delay: FiniteDuration): Unit =
+      startTimer(key, msg, delay, Effect.TimerScheduled.FixedDelayModeWithInitialDelay(initialDelay))
+
     override def startTimerAtFixedRate(key: Any, msg: T, interval: FiniteDuration): Unit =
       startTimer(key, msg, interval, Effect.TimerScheduled.FixedRateMode)
 
+    override def startTimerAtFixedRate(key: Any, msg: T, initialDelay: FiniteDuration, interval: FiniteDuration): Unit =
+      startTimer(key, msg, interval, Effect.TimerScheduled.FixedRateModeWithInitialDelay(initialDelay))
+
     override def startPeriodicTimer(key: Any, msg: T, interval: FiniteDuration): Unit =
       startTimer(key, msg, interval, Effect.TimerScheduled.FixedRateMode)
 
diff --git a/akka-actor-testkit-typed/src/test/scala/akka/actor/testkit/typed/scaladsl/BehaviorTestKitSpec.scala b/akka-actor-testkit-typed/src/test/scala/akka/actor/testkit/typed/scaladsl/BehaviorTestKitSpec.scala
index 826de376dd..cb2bb95a91 100644
--- a/akka-actor-testkit-typed/src/test/scala/akka/actor/testkit/typed/scaladsl/BehaviorTestKitSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-actor-testkit-typed/src/test/scala/akka/actor/testkit/typed/scaladsl/BehaviorTestKitSpec.scala
@@ -123,8 +123,12 @@ object BehaviorTestKitSpec {
             case ScheduleCommand(key, delay, mode, cmd) =>
               mode match {
                 case Effect.TimerScheduled.SingleMode     => timers.startSingleTimer(key, cmd, delay)
-                case Effect.TimerScheduled.FixedDelayMode => timers.startTimerWithFixedDelay(key, cmd, delay)
-                case Effect.TimerScheduled.FixedRateMode  => timers.startTimerAtFixedRate(key, cmd, delay)
+                case Effect.TimerScheduled.FixedDelayMode => timers.startTimerWithFixedDelay(key, cmd, delay, delay)
+                case m: Effect.TimerScheduled.FixedDelayModeWithInitialDelay =>
+                  timers.startTimerWithFixedDelay(key, cmd, m.initialDelay, delay)
+                case Effect.TimerScheduled.FixedRateMode => timers.startTimerAtFixedRate(key, cmd, delay, delay)
+                case m: Effect.TimerScheduled.FixedRateModeWithInitialDelay =>
+                  timers.startTimerAtFixedRate(key, cmd, m.initialDelay, delay)
               }
               Behaviors.same
             case CancelScheduleCommand(key) =>
@@ -445,16 +449,17 @@ class BehaviorTestKitSpec extends AnyWordSpec with Matchers with LogCapturing {
     }
 
     "schedule and fire timers multiple times" in {
+      val delay = 42.seconds
       val testkit = BehaviorTestKit[Parent.Command](Parent.init)
-      testkit.run(ScheduleCommand("abc", 42.seconds, Effect.TimerScheduled.FixedRateMode, SpawnChild))
+      testkit.run(ScheduleCommand("abc", delay, Effect.TimerScheduled.FixedRateMode, SpawnChild))
       val send = testkit.expectEffectPF {
         case e @ Effect.TimerScheduled(
               "abc",
               SpawnChild,
               finiteDuration,
-              Effect.TimerScheduled.FixedRateMode,
+              Effect.TimerScheduled.FixedRateModeWithInitialDelay(`delay`),
               false /*not overriding*/ ) =>
-          finiteDuration should equal(42.seconds)
+          finiteDuration should equal(delay)
           e.send
       }
       send()
diff --git a/akka-actor-typed/src/main/mima-filters/2.6.13.backwards.excludes/30065-timers-initialDelay.excludes b/akka-actor-typed/src/main/mima-filters/2.6.13.backwards.excludes/30065-timers-initialDelay.excludes
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..30ec731fb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/akka-actor-typed/src/main/mima-filters/2.6.13.backwards.excludes/30065-timers-initialDelay.excludes
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# marked with @DoNotInherit
+ProblemFilters.exclude[ReversedMissingMethodProblem]("akka.actor.typed.javadsl.TimerScheduler.startTimerWithFixedDelay")
+ProblemFilters.exclude[ReversedMissingMethodProblem]("akka.actor.typed.javadsl.TimerScheduler.startTimerAtFixedRate")
+ProblemFilters.exclude[ReversedMissingMethodProblem]("akka.actor.typed.scaladsl.TimerScheduler.startTimerWithFixedDelay")
+ProblemFilters.exclude[ReversedMissingMethodProblem]("akka.actor.typed.scaladsl.TimerScheduler.startTimerAtFixedRate")
+# marked with @InternalApi
+ProblemFilters.exclude[MissingTypesProblem]("akka.actor.typed.internal.TimerSchedulerImpl$FixedRateMode$")
+ProblemFilters.exclude[DirectMissingMethodProblem]("akka.actor.typed.internal.TimerSchedulerImpl#FixedRateMode.*")
+ProblemFilters.exclude[FinalMethodProblem]("akka.actor.typed.internal.TimerSchedulerImpl#FixedRateMode.toString")
+ProblemFilters.exclude[MissingTypesProblem]("akka.actor.typed.internal.TimerSchedulerImpl$FixedDelayMode$")
+ProblemFilters.exclude[DirectMissingMethodProblem]("akka.actor.typed.internal.TimerSchedulerImpl#FixedDelayMode.*")
+ProblemFilters.exclude[FinalMethodProblem]("akka.actor.typed.internal.TimerSchedulerImpl#FixedDelayMode.toString")
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/akka-actor-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/typed/internal/TimerSchedulerImpl.scala b/akka-actor-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/typed/internal/TimerSchedulerImpl.scala
index 49ce6e1694..8a9e0036d8 100644
--- a/akka-actor-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/typed/internal/TimerSchedulerImpl.scala
+++ b/akka-actor-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/typed/internal/TimerSchedulerImpl.scala
@@ -40,10 +40,10 @@ import scala.concurrent.duration.FiniteDuration
   private sealed trait TimerMode {
     def repeat: Boolean
   }
-  private case object FixedRateMode extends TimerMode {
+  private case class FixedRateMode(initialDelay: FiniteDuration) extends TimerMode {
     override def repeat: Boolean = true
   }
-  private case object FixedDelayMode extends TimerMode {
+  private case class FixedDelayMode(initialDelay: FiniteDuration) extends TimerMode {
     override def repeat: Boolean = true
   }
   private case object SingleMode extends TimerMode {
@@ -59,9 +59,15 @@ import scala.concurrent.duration.FiniteDuration
   override final def startTimerWithFixedDelay(key: Any, msg: T, delay: Duration): Unit =
     startTimerWithFixedDelay(key, msg, delay.asScala)
 
+  override final def startTimerWithFixedDelay(key: Any, msg: T, initialDelay: Duration, delay: Duration): Unit =
+    startTimerWithFixedDelay(key, msg, initialDelay.asScala, delay.asScala)
+
   override final def startTimerAtFixedRate(key: Any, msg: T, interval: Duration): Unit =
     startTimerAtFixedRate(key, msg, interval.asScala)
 
+  override final def startTimerAtFixedRate(key: Any, msg: T, initialDelay: Duration, interval: Duration): Unit =
+    startTimerAtFixedRate(key, msg, initialDelay.asScala, interval.asScala)
+
   override final def startPeriodicTimer(key: Any, msg: T, interval: Duration): Unit = {
     //this follows the deprecation note in the super class
     startTimerWithFixedDelay(key, msg, interval.asScala)
@@ -83,13 +89,19 @@ import scala.concurrent.duration.FiniteDuration
   private val timerGen = Iterator.from(1)
 
   override def startTimerAtFixedRate(key: Any, msg: T, interval: FiniteDuration): Unit =
-    startTimer(key, msg, interval, FixedRateMode)
+    startTimer(key, msg, interval, FixedRateMode(interval))
+
+  override def startTimerAtFixedRate(key: Any, msg: T, initialDelay: FiniteDuration, interval: FiniteDuration): Unit =
+    startTimer(key, msg, interval, FixedRateMode(initialDelay))
 
   override def startTimerWithFixedDelay(key: Any, msg: T, delay: FiniteDuration): Unit =
-    startTimer(key, msg, delay, FixedDelayMode)
+    startTimer(key, msg, delay, FixedDelayMode(delay))
+
+  override def startTimerWithFixedDelay(key: Any, msg: T, initialDelay: FiniteDuration, delay: FiniteDuration): Unit =
+    startTimer(key, msg, delay, FixedDelayMode(initialDelay))
 
   override def startPeriodicTimer(key: Any, msg: T, interval: FiniteDuration): Unit =
-    startTimer(key, msg, interval, FixedRateMode)
+    startTimer(key, msg, interval, FixedRateMode(interval))
 
   override def startSingleTimer(key: Any, msg: T, delay: FiniteDuration): Unit =
     startTimer(key, msg, delay, SingleMode)
@@ -110,11 +122,11 @@ import scala.concurrent.duration.FiniteDuration
     val task = mode match {
       case SingleMode =>
         ctx.system.scheduler.scheduleOnce(delay, () => ctx.self.unsafeUpcast ! timerMsg)(ExecutionContexts.parasitic)
-      case FixedDelayMode =>
-        ctx.system.scheduler.scheduleWithFixedDelay(delay, delay)(() => ctx.self.unsafeUpcast ! timerMsg)(
+      case m: FixedDelayMode =>
+        ctx.system.scheduler.scheduleWithFixedDelay(m.initialDelay, delay)(() => ctx.self.unsafeUpcast ! timerMsg)(
           ExecutionContexts.parasitic)
-      case FixedRateMode =>
-        ctx.system.scheduler.scheduleAtFixedRate(delay, delay)(() => ctx.self.unsafeUpcast ! timerMsg)(
+      case m: FixedRateMode =>
+        ctx.system.scheduler.scheduleAtFixedRate(m.initialDelay, delay)(() => ctx.self.unsafeUpcast ! timerMsg)(
           ExecutionContexts.parasitic)
     }
 
diff --git a/akka-actor-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/typed/javadsl/TimerScheduler.scala b/akka-actor-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/typed/javadsl/TimerScheduler.scala
index 61205a1b94..8725a7cf7f 100644
--- a/akka-actor-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/typed/javadsl/TimerScheduler.scala
+++ b/akka-actor-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/typed/javadsl/TimerScheduler.scala
@@ -40,6 +40,24 @@ trait TimerScheduler[T] {
    */
   def startTimerWithFixedDelay(key: Any, msg: T, delay: java.time.Duration): Unit
 
+  /**
+   * Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
+   * fixed `delay` between messages after `initialDelay`.
+   *
+   * It will not compensate the delay between messages if scheduling is delayed
+   * longer than specified for some reason. The delay between sending of subsequent
+   * messages will always be (at least) the given `delay`.
+   *
+   * In the long run, the frequency of messages will generally be slightly lower than
+   * the reciprocal of the specified `delay`.
+   *
+   * Each timer has a key and if a new timer with same key is started
+   * the previous is cancelled. It is guaranteed that a message from the
+   * previous timer is not received, even if it was already enqueued
+   * in the mailbox when the new timer was started.
+   */
+  def startTimerWithFixedDelay(key: Any, msg: T, initialDelay: java.time.Duration, delay: java.time.Duration): Unit
+
   /**
    * Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
    * fixed `delay` between messages.
@@ -60,6 +78,26 @@ trait TimerScheduler[T] {
   def startTimerWithFixedDelay(msg: T, delay: java.time.Duration): Unit =
     startTimerWithFixedDelay(msg, msg, delay)
 
+  /**
+   * Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
+   * fixed `delay` between messages after `initialDelay`.
+   *
+   * It will not compensate the delay between messages if scheduling is delayed
+   * longer than specified for some reason. The delay between sending of subsequent
+   * messages will always be (at least) the given `delay`.
+   *
+   * In the long run, the frequency of messages will generally be slightly lower than
+   * the reciprocal of the specified `delay`.
+   *
+   * When a new timer is started with the same message,
+   * the previous is cancelled. It is guaranteed that a message from the
+   * previous timer is not received, even if it was already enqueued
+   * in the mailbox when the new timer was started. If you do not want this,
+   * you can start start them as individual timers by specifying distinct keys.
+   */
+  def startTimerWithFixedDelay(msg: T, initialDelay: java.time.Duration, delay: java.time.Duration): Unit =
+    startTimerWithFixedDelay(msg, msg, initialDelay, delay)
+
   /**
    * Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
    * given frequency.
@@ -87,6 +125,33 @@ trait TimerScheduler[T] {
    */
   def startTimerAtFixedRate(key: Any, msg: T, interval: java.time.Duration): Unit
 
+  /**
+   * Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
+   * given frequency.
+   *
+   * It will compensate the delay for a subsequent message if the sending of previous
+   * message was delayed more than specified. In such cases, the actual message interval
+   * will differ from the interval passed to the method.
+   *
+   * If the execution is delayed longer than the `interval`, the subsequent message will
+   * be sent immediately after the prior one. This also has the consequence that after
+   * long garbage collection pauses or other reasons when the JVM was suspended all
+   * "missed" messages will be sent when the process wakes up again.
+   *
+   * In the long run, the frequency of messages will be exactly the reciprocal of the
+   * specified `interval` after `initialDelay`.
+   *
+   * Warning: `startTimerAtFixedRate` can result in bursts of scheduled messages after long
+   * garbage collection pauses, which may in worst case cause undesired load on the system.
+   * Therefore `startTimerWithFixedDelay` is often preferred.
+   *
+   * Each timer has a key and if a new timer with same key is started
+   * the previous is cancelled. It is guaranteed that a message from the
+   * previous timer is not received, even if it was already enqueued
+   * in the mailbox when the new timer was started.
+   */
+  def startTimerAtFixedRate(key: Any, msg: T, initialDelay: java.time.Duration, interval: java.time.Duration): Unit
+
   /**
    * Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
    * given frequency.
@@ -116,6 +181,35 @@ trait TimerScheduler[T] {
   def startTimerAtFixedRate(msg: T, interval: java.time.Duration): Unit =
     startTimerAtFixedRate(msg, msg, interval)
 
+  /**
+   * Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
+   * given frequency.
+   *
+   * It will compensate the delay for a subsequent message if the sending of previous
+   * message was delayed more than specified. In such cases, the actual message interval
+   * will differ from the interval passed to the method.
+   *
+   * If the execution is delayed longer than the `interval`, the subsequent message will
+   * be sent immediately after the prior one. This also has the consequence that after
+   * long garbage collection pauses or other reasons when the JVM was suspended all
+   * "missed" messages will be sent when the process wakes up again.
+   *
+   * In the long run, the frequency of messages will be exactly the reciprocal of the
+   * specified `interval` after `initialDelay`.
+   *
+   * Warning: `startTimerAtFixedRate` can result in bursts of scheduled messages after long
+   * garbage collection pauses, which may in worst case cause undesired load on the system.
+   * Therefore `startTimerWithFixedDelay` is often preferred.
+   *
+   * When a new timer is started with the same message,
+   * the previous is cancelled. It is guaranteed that a message from the
+   * previous timer is not received, even if it was already enqueued
+   * in the mailbox when the new timer was started. If you do not want this,
+   * you can start start them as individual timers by specifying distinct keys.
+   */
+  def startTimerAtFixedRate(msg: T, initialDelay: java.time.Duration, interval: java.time.Duration): Unit =
+    startTimerAtFixedRate(msg, msg, initialDelay, interval)
+
   /**
    * Deprecated API: See [[TimerScheduler#startTimerWithFixedDelay]] or [[TimerScheduler#startTimerAtFixedRate]].
    */
diff --git a/akka-actor-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/typed/scaladsl/TimerScheduler.scala b/akka-actor-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/typed/scaladsl/TimerScheduler.scala
index c4226104f0..d6ef9ea412 100644
--- a/akka-actor-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/typed/scaladsl/TimerScheduler.scala
+++ b/akka-actor-typed/src/main/scala/akka/actor/typed/scaladsl/TimerScheduler.scala
@@ -40,6 +40,24 @@ trait TimerScheduler[T] {
    */
   def startTimerWithFixedDelay(key: Any, msg: T, delay: FiniteDuration): Unit
 
+  /**
+   * Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
+   * fixed `delay` between messages after the `initialDelay`.
+   *
+   * It will not compensate the delay between messages if scheduling is delayed
+   * longer than specified for some reason. The delay between sending of subsequent
+   * messages will always be (at least) the given `delay`.
+   *
+   * In the long run, the frequency of messages will generally be slightly lower than
+   * the reciprocal of the specified `delay`.
+   *
+   * Each timer has a key and if a new timer with same key is started
+   * the previous is cancelled. It is guaranteed that a message from the
+   * previous timer is not received, even if it was already be enqueued
+   * in the mailbox before the new timer was started.
+   */
+  def startTimerWithFixedDelay(key: Any, msg: T, initialDelay: FiniteDuration, delay: FiniteDuration): Unit
+
   /**
    * Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
    * fixed `delay` between messages.
@@ -60,6 +78,26 @@ trait TimerScheduler[T] {
   def startTimerWithFixedDelay(msg: T, delay: FiniteDuration): Unit =
     startTimerWithFixedDelay(msg, msg, delay)
 
+  /**
+   * Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
+   * fixed `delay` between messages after the `initialDelay`.
+   *
+   * It will not compensate the delay between messages if scheduling is delayed
+   * longer than specified for some reason. The delay between sending of subsequent
+   * messages will always be (at least) the given `delay`.
+   *
+   * In the long run, the frequency of messages will generally be slightly lower than
+   * the reciprocal of the specified `delay`.
+   *
+   * When a new timer is started with the same message,
+   * the previous is cancelled. It is guaranteed that a message from the
+   * previous timer is not received, even if it was already enqueued
+   * in the mailbox when the new timer was started. If you do not want this,
+   * you can start start them as individual timers by specifying distinct keys.
+   */
+  def startTimerWithFixedDelay(msg: T, initialDelay: FiniteDuration, delay: FiniteDuration): Unit =
+    startTimerWithFixedDelay(msg, msg, initialDelay, delay)
+
   /**
    * Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
    * given frequency.
@@ -87,6 +125,33 @@ trait TimerScheduler[T] {
    */
   def startTimerAtFixedRate(key: Any, msg: T, interval: FiniteDuration): Unit
 
+  /**
+   * Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
+   * given frequency.
+   *
+   * It will compensate the delay for a subsequent message if the sending of previous
+   * message was delayed more than specified. In such cases, the actual message interval
+   * will differ from the interval passed to the method.
+   *
+   * If the execution is delayed longer than the `interval`, the subsequent message will
+   * be sent immediately after the prior one. This also has the consequence that after
+   * long garbage collection pauses or other reasons when the JVM was suspended all
+   * "missed" messages will be sent when the process wakes up again.
+   *
+   * In the long run, the frequency of messages will be exactly the reciprocal of the
+   * specified `interval` after `initialDelay`.
+   *
+   * Warning: `startTimerAtFixedRate` can result in bursts of scheduled messages after long
+   * garbage collection pauses, which may in worst case cause undesired load on the system.
+   * Therefore `startTimerWithFixedDelay` is often preferred.
+   *
+   * Each timer has a key and if a new timer with same key is started
+   * the previous is cancelled. It is guaranteed that a message from the
+   * previous timer is not received, even if it was already enqueued
+   * in the mailbox when the new timer was started.
+   */
+  def startTimerAtFixedRate(key: Any, msg: T, initialDelay: FiniteDuration, interval: FiniteDuration): Unit
+
   /**
    * Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
    * given frequency.
@@ -116,6 +181,35 @@ trait TimerScheduler[T] {
   def startTimerAtFixedRate(msg: T, interval: FiniteDuration): Unit =
     startTimerAtFixedRate(msg, msg, interval)
 
+  /**
+   * Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
+   * given frequency.
+   *
+   * It will compensate the delay for a subsequent message if the sending of previous
+   * message was delayed more than specified. In such cases, the actual message interval
+   * will differ from the interval passed to the method.
+   *
+   * If the execution is delayed longer than the `interval`, the subsequent message will
+   * be sent immediately after the prior one. This also has the consequence that after
+   * long garbage collection pauses or other reasons when the JVM was suspended all
+   * "missed" messages will be sent when the process wakes up again.
+   *
+   * In the long run, the frequency of messages will be exactly the reciprocal of the
+   * specified `interval` after `initialDelay`.
+   *
+   * Warning: `startTimerAtFixedRate` can result in bursts of scheduled messages after long
+   * garbage collection pauses, which may in worst case cause undesired load on the system.
+   * Therefore `startTimerWithFixedDelay` is often preferred.
+   *
+   * When a new timer is started with the same message
+   * the previous is cancelled. It is guaranteed that a message from the
+   * previous timer is not received, even if it was already enqueued
+   * in the mailbox when the new timer was started. If you do not want this,
+   * you can start start them as individual timers by specifying distinct keys.
+   */
+  def startTimerAtFixedRate(msg: T, initialDelay: FiniteDuration, interval: FiniteDuration): Unit =
+    startTimerAtFixedRate(msg, msg, initialDelay, interval)
+
   /**
    * Deprecated API: See [[TimerScheduler#startTimerWithFixedDelay]] or [[TimerScheduler#startTimerAtFixedRate]].
    */
diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/mima-filters/2.6.13.backwards.excludes/30065-timers-initialDelay.excludes b/akka-actor/src/main/mima-filters/2.6.13.backwards.excludes/30065-timers-initialDelay.excludes
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6c1e3d8a0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/mima-filters/2.6.13.backwards.excludes/30065-timers-initialDelay.excludes
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# marked with @DoNotInherit
+ProblemFilters.exclude[ReversedMissingMethodProblem]("akka.actor.TimerScheduler.startTimerWithFixedDelay")
+ProblemFilters.exclude[ReversedMissingMethodProblem]("akka.actor.TimerScheduler.startTimerAtFixedRate")
+# marked with @InternalApi
+ProblemFilters.exclude[MissingTypesProblem]("akka.actor.TimerSchedulerImpl$FixedRateMode$")
+ProblemFilters.exclude[MissingTypesProblem]("akka.actor.TimerSchedulerImpl$FixedDelayMode$")
+ProblemFilters.exclude[FinalMethodProblem]("akka.actor.TimerSchedulerImpl#FixedRateMode.toString")
+ProblemFilters.exclude[FinalMethodProblem]("akka.actor.TimerSchedulerImpl#FixedDelayMode.toString")
+ProblemFilters.exclude[DirectMissingMethodProblem]("akka.actor.TimerSchedulerImpl#FixedRateMode.*")
+ProblemFilters.exclude[DirectMissingMethodProblem]("akka.actor.TimerSchedulerImpl#FixedDelayMode.*")
+ProblemFilters.exclude[DirectMissingMethodProblem]("akka.actor.TimerSchedulerImpl#FixedRateMode.productElementName")
+ProblemFilters.exclude[DirectMissingMethodProblem]("akka.actor.TimerSchedulerImpl#FixedRateMode.productElementNames")
+ProblemFilters.exclude[DirectMissingMethodProblem]("akka.actor.TimerSchedulerImpl#FixedDelayMode.productElementName")
+ProblemFilters.exclude[DirectMissingMethodProblem]("akka.actor.TimerSchedulerImpl#FixedDelayMode.productElementNames")
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/Timers.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/Timers.scala
index a7d936ddf5..049a506df6 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/Timers.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/Timers.scala
@@ -104,6 +104,24 @@ abstract class AbstractActorWithTimers extends AbstractActor with Timers {
    */
   def startTimerWithFixedDelay(key: Any, msg: Any, delay: FiniteDuration): Unit
 
+  /**
+   * Scala API: Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
+   * fixed `delay` between messages after the `initialDelay`.
+   *
+   * It will not compensate the delay between messages if scheduling is delayed
+   * longer than specified for some reason. The delay between sending of subsequent
+   * messages will always be (at least) the given `delay`.
+   *
+   * In the long run, the frequency of messages will generally be slightly lower than
+   * the reciprocal of the specified `delay`.
+   *
+   * Each timer has a key and if a new timer with same key is started
+   * the previous is cancelled. It is guaranteed that a message from the
+   * previous timer is not received, even if it was already enqueued
+   * in the mailbox when the new timer was started.
+   */
+  def startTimerWithFixedDelay(key: Any, msg: Any, initialDelay: FiniteDuration, delay: FiniteDuration): Unit
+
   /**
    * Java API: Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
    * fixed `delay` between messages.
@@ -123,6 +141,29 @@ abstract class AbstractActorWithTimers extends AbstractActor with Timers {
   final def startTimerWithFixedDelay(key: Any, msg: Any, delay: java.time.Duration): Unit =
     startTimerWithFixedDelay(key, msg, delay.asScala)
 
+  /**
+   * Java API: Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
+   * fixed `delay` between messages after the `initialDelay`.
+   *
+   * It will not compensate the delay between messages if scheduling is delayed
+   * longer than specified for some reason. The delay between sending of subsequent
+   * messages will always be (at least) the given `delay`.
+   *
+   * In the long run, the frequency of messages will generally be slightly lower than
+   * the reciprocal of the specified `delay`.
+   *
+   * Each timer has a key and if a new timer with same key is started
+   * the previous is cancelled. It is guaranteed that a message from the
+   * previous timer is not received, even if it was already enqueued
+   * in the mailbox when the new timer was started.
+   */
+  final def startTimerWithFixedDelay(
+      key: Any,
+      msg: Any,
+      initialDelay: java.time.Duration,
+      delay: java.time.Duration): Unit =
+    startTimerWithFixedDelay(key, msg, initialDelay.asScala, delay.asScala)
+
   /**
    * Scala API: Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
    * given frequency.
@@ -150,6 +191,33 @@ abstract class AbstractActorWithTimers extends AbstractActor with Timers {
    */
   def startTimerAtFixedRate(key: Any, msg: Any, interval: FiniteDuration): Unit
 
+  /**
+   * Scala API: Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
+   * given frequency.
+   *
+   * It will compensate the delay for a subsequent message if the sending of previous
+   * message was delayed more than specified. In such cases, the actual message interval
+   * will differ from the interval passed to the method.
+   *
+   * If the execution is delayed longer than the `interval`, the subsequent message will
+   * be sent immediately after the prior one. This also has the consequence that after
+   * long garbage collection pauses or other reasons when the JVM was suspended all
+   * "missed" messages will be sent when the process wakes up again.
+   *
+   * In the long run, the frequency of messages will be exactly the reciprocal of the
+   * specified `interval` after `initialDelay`.
+   *
+   * Warning: `startTimerAtFixedRate` can result in bursts of scheduled messages after long
+   * garbage collection pauses, which may in worst case cause undesired load on the system.
+   * Therefore `startTimerWithFixedDelay` is often preferred.
+   *
+   * Each timer has a key and if a new timer with same key is started
+   * the previous is cancelled. It is guaranteed that a message from the
+   * previous timer is not received, even if it was already enqueued
+   * in the mailbox when the new timer was started.
+   */
+  def startTimerAtFixedRate(key: Any, msg: Any, initialDelay: FiniteDuration, interval: FiniteDuration): Unit
+
   /**
    * Java API: Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
    * given frequency.
@@ -178,6 +246,38 @@ abstract class AbstractActorWithTimers extends AbstractActor with Timers {
   final def startTimerAtFixedRate(key: Any, msg: Any, interval: java.time.Duration): Unit =
     startTimerAtFixedRate(key, msg, interval.asScala)
 
+  /**
+   * Java API: Schedules a message to be sent repeatedly to the `self` actor with a
+   * given frequency.
+   *
+   * It will compensate the delay for a subsequent message if the sending of previous
+   * message was delayed more than specified. In such cases, the actual message interval
+   * will differ from the interval passed to the method.
+   *
+   * If the execution is delayed longer than the `interval`, the subsequent message will
+   * be sent immediately after the prior one. This also has the consequence that after
+   * long garbage collection pauses or other reasons when the JVM was suspended all
+   * "missed" messages will be sent when the process wakes up again.
+   *
+   * In the long run, the frequency of messages will be exactly the reciprocal of the
+   * specified `interval`.
+   *
+   * Warning: `startTimerAtFixedRate` can result in bursts of scheduled messages after long
+   * garbage collection pauses, which may in worst case cause undesired load on the system.
+   * Therefore `startTimerWithFixedDelay` is often preferred.
+   *
+   * Each timer has a key and if a new timer with same key is started
+   * the previous is cancelled. It is guaranteed that a message from the
+   * previous timer is not received, even if it was already enqueued
+   * in the mailbox when the new timer was started.
+   */
+  final def startTimerAtFixedRate(
+      key: Any,
+      msg: Any,
+      initialDelay: java.time.Duration,
+      interval: java.time.Duration): Unit =
+    startTimerAtFixedRate(key, msg, initialDelay.asScala, interval.asScala)
+
   /**
    * Deprecated API: See [[TimerScheduler#startTimerWithFixedDelay]] or [[TimerScheduler#startTimerAtFixedRate]].
    */
diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/dungeon/TimerSchedulerImpl.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/dungeon/TimerSchedulerImpl.scala
index 5213d63655..34f16db6ab 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/dungeon/TimerSchedulerImpl.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/dungeon/TimerSchedulerImpl.scala
@@ -32,10 +32,10 @@ import akka.util.OptionVal
   private sealed trait TimerMode {
     def repeat: Boolean
   }
-  private case object FixedRateMode extends TimerMode {
+  private case class FixedRateMode(initialDelay: FiniteDuration) extends TimerMode {
     override def repeat: Boolean = true
   }
-  private case object FixedDelayMode extends TimerMode {
+  private case class FixedDelayMode(initialDelay: FiniteDuration) extends TimerMode {
     override def repeat: Boolean = true
   }
   private case object SingleMode extends TimerMode {
@@ -58,10 +58,16 @@ import akka.util.OptionVal
   }
 
   override def startTimerAtFixedRate(key: Any, msg: Any, interval: FiniteDuration): Unit =
-    startTimer(key, msg, interval, FixedRateMode)
+    startTimer(key, msg, interval, FixedRateMode(interval))
+
+  override def startTimerAtFixedRate(key: Any, msg: Any, initialDelay: FiniteDuration, interval: FiniteDuration): Unit =
+    startTimer(key, msg, interval, FixedRateMode(initialDelay))
 
   override def startTimerWithFixedDelay(key: Any, msg: Any, delay: FiniteDuration): Unit =
-    startTimer(key, msg, delay, FixedDelayMode)
+    startTimer(key, msg, delay, FixedDelayMode(delay))
+
+  override def startTimerWithFixedDelay(key: Any, msg: Any, initialDelay: FiniteDuration, delay: FiniteDuration): Unit =
+    startTimer(key, msg, delay, FixedDelayMode(initialDelay))
 
   override def startPeriodicTimer(key: Any, msg: Any, interval: FiniteDuration): Unit =
     startTimerAtFixedRate(key, msg, interval)
@@ -85,10 +91,10 @@ import akka.util.OptionVal
     val task = mode match {
       case SingleMode =>
         ctx.system.scheduler.scheduleOnce(timeout, ctx.self, timerMsg)(ctx.dispatcher)
-      case FixedDelayMode =>
-        ctx.system.scheduler.scheduleWithFixedDelay(timeout, timeout, ctx.self, timerMsg)(ctx.dispatcher)
-      case FixedRateMode =>
-        ctx.system.scheduler.scheduleAtFixedRate(timeout, timeout, ctx.self, timerMsg)(ctx.dispatcher)
+      case m: FixedDelayMode =>
+        ctx.system.scheduler.scheduleWithFixedDelay(m.initialDelay, timeout, ctx.self, timerMsg)(ctx.dispatcher)
+      case m: FixedRateMode =>
+        ctx.system.scheduler.scheduleAtFixedRate(m.initialDelay, timeout, ctx.self, timerMsg)(ctx.dispatcher)
     }
 
     val nextTimer = Timer(key, msg, mode.repeat, nextGen, task)