boy's name
Nicholas
NIK-uh-lus
- Origin Greek
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 3
- Letters 8
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 997,031
the United States
#112
2025 births
Nicholas is a boy's name of Greek origin meaning "victory of the people," from nike, victory, and laos, the people. Saint Nicholas of Myra, a fourth-century bishop known for secret gift-giving, became the figure behind Santa Claus.
- Nicholas is a name of Greek origin.
- Peaked in 1995, when 29,216 babies were given the name.
- It has been falling over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 1,062 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 3 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Nicholas over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 730 |
| 1890s | 857 |
| 1900s | 1,334 |
| 1910s | 10,253 |
| 1920s | 13,700 |
| 1930s | 9,756 |
| 1940s | 15,531 |
| 1950s | 22,666 |
| 1960s | 22,407 |
| 1970s | 65,476 |
| 1980s | 224,702 |
| 1990s | 275,952 |
| 2000s | 177,931 |
| 2010s | 66,897 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 21,007 |
What Nicholas means
Nicholas means victory of the people, joining the Greek nike — the same word as the goddess of victory and the sportswear brand — with laos, meaning the people or the common folk.
Where Nicholas comes from
Nicholas comes from the Greek Nikolaos, from nike, victory, and laos, the people. Saint Nicholas was a fourth-century bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, remembered for giving gifts in secret, most famously providing dowries for three poor sisters by leaving gold at night. His feast on 6 December became a gift-giving day across Europe, and the Dutch form Sinterklaas, carried to New Amsterdam, became Santa Claus in American English. He is also patron saint of sailors, merchants and Russia. The name has been in continuous English use since the medieval period and produced the surnames Nicholson, Nixon and Collins.
Nicholas in use
Santa Claus comes from the Dutch Sinterklaas, carried to New Amsterdam and reshaped in American English.
How popular is Nicholas?
In 2025, Nicholas was given to 3,123 babies in the United States, ranking #112 that year. It is a well-established, commonly used name.
Where Nicholas is used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Nicholas
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Nicholas also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Nicholas over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
4 nicknames for Nicholas
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Nicholas in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Nicholas
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Nicholas — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Nicholas
What does the name Nicholas mean?
Nicholas means "victory of the people," from the Greek nike and laos.
Is Nicholas connected to Santa Claus?
Yes. Santa Claus comes from the Dutch Sinterklaas, from Saint Nicholas of Myra.
What are nicknames for Nicholas?
Nick, Nico and Cole are the most common short forms.
How popular is the name Nicholas?
In 2025, Nicholas was given to 3,123 babies in the United States, ranking #112 that year. It is a well-established, commonly used name.
Is Nicholas a girl's or a boy's name?
Nicholas is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Nicholas?
Nicholas has 3 syllables.
When was Nicholas most popular?
Nicholas peaked in 1995, when 29,216 babies were given the name. It has been falling over the past decade.
Is Nicholas a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Nicholas currently ranks #112 in the United States. It has been falling over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.