unisex name · in the US
Nicola
NIK-uh-luh (English)
- Gender Unisex (US)
- Syllables 3
- Letters 6
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 40,079
Scotland
#856
2024 births
Nicola is a unisex name in the United States, with 3 syllables. It is given to both girls and boys — about 88% of recorded births with this name are girls. In 2025 it was given to 40 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
- Peaked in Scotland in 1974, when 935 babies were given the name.
- It has been falling over the past decade in Scotland.
- Today about 1 in 12,709 babies in Scotland is given this name.
- Nicola started out as a boys' name and is now given almost entirely to girls.
- First appears in birth records in 1974.
- 3 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Nicola Over Time
Births per decade in Scotland, 1970s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2024.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 4,880 |
| 1980s | 7,540 |
| 1990s | 2,956 |
| 2000s | 440 |
| 2010s | 137 |
| 2020s (to 2024) | 10 |
How Popular Is Nicola?
In 2024, Nicola was given to 3 babies in Scotland, ranking #856 that year. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Nicola Is Used
Figures for Scotland leave out any name given to fewer than three babies in a year, so a gap means the name fell below that floor rather than went unused. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Nicola
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Nicola Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Nicola over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Boys' or Girls' Name?
Nicola is used differently depending on where you are. Each figure is the share of babies given the name who were girls, over the last ten years of that country's records.
- United States Both 33% girls · 432 babies
- England & Wales Girls' 93% girls · 354 babies
- Canada Both 39% girls · 192 babies
- France Boys' 0% girls · 115 babies
- Ireland Girls' 100% girls · 57 babies
How to Say Nicola
- English NIK-uh-luh
2 nicknames for Nicola
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.
Nicola 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 Nicola
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Nicola — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Nicola
How popular is the name Nicola?
In 2024, Nicola was given to 3 babies in Scotland, ranking #856 that year. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Nicola a girl's or a boy's name?
Nicola is used for both girls and boys. About 88% of recorded births with this name are girls.
How many syllables are in Nicola?
Nicola has 3 syllables.
When was Nicola most popular?
Nicola peaked in 1974, when 935 babies were given the name. It has been falling over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Nicola?
Nicola is usually shortened to Nicky and Nikki.
Is Nicola a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Nicola currently ranks #856 in Scotland. It has been falling over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.
Was Nicola originally a boys' or girls' name?
Nicola was given mostly to boys in the earliest US birth records and is now given almost entirely to girls.