Fun Facts About the Name Nicholas
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 926,012 boys named Nicholas from 1880 through 2025.
- Decades of popularity: Nicholas stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 51 consecutive years, from 1972 through 2022.
- More than 929 thousand babies named Nicholas: U.S. records list 929,159 babies given the name Nicholas from 1880 through 2025. Even 3,147 girls received the name Nicholas - about 1 girl for every 294 boys.
What Does the Name Nicholas Mean?
Nicholas means "victory of the people." It comes from the Greek name Nikolaos (Νικόλαος), formed from nike (νίκη), "victory," and laos (λαός), "people." The literal sense is "victory of the people," though it is also commonly understood as "people's victory."
The Greek name passed into Latin as Nicolaus and then into many European languages, often with spelling changes but the same two components. Its origin is Greek, not Old English or Latin, and its use spread through Greek-speaking Christian communities before it became established in western Europe.
Nicholas Name History & Origins
The Greek Nikolaos was used by early Christians; its best-known early bearer is Saint Nicholas, a bishop of Myra in Lycia, traditionally dated to the fourth century. His veneration spread in both the Eastern and Western churches, and the name traveled with it. In Latin it became Nicolaus, the form used in medieval documents and church calendars. From Latin it entered Old French as Nicolas and Middle English as Nicholas. The name was established in England in the medieval period and became a common given name there.
Other European forms include Italian Niccolò, Spanish Nicolás, French Nicolas, German Nikolaus, Russian Nikolai, Polish Mikołaj, and Hungarian Miklós. The Dutch form Sinterklaas, from Sint Nikolaas ("Saint Nicholas"), lies behind the English name Santa Claus, which developed from Dutch pronunciation and spelling in North America. The given name also appears in royal and literary history, including several Russian tsars and the title character of Dickens's Nicholas Nickleby, but these are later uses rather than the name's origin.
How Popular is the Name Nicholas?
Nicholas remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1972 to 2022. Its highest annual birth count was in 1995, and people born that year turn 31 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #11,640 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2022 | #14,806 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2019 | #12,124 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2017 | #15,412 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #15,698 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #14,081 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #9,393 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2013 | #8,924 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2012 | #13,117 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2011 | #8,092 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2010 | #10,273 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2009 | #7,269 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2008 | #6,505 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2007 | #8,876 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2006 | #7,758 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2005 | #5,391 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2004 | #2,387 | 72 | 0.0039% |
| 2003 | #3,331 | 44 | 0.0024% |
| 2002 | #3,511 | 39 | 0.0022% |
| 2001 | #3,763 | 35 | 0.0019% |
| 2000 | #3,443 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 1999 | #3,294 | 39 | 0.0022% |
| 1998 | #3,277 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 1997 | #2,544 | 51 | 0.0029% |
| 1996 | #2,471 | 52 | 0.0030% |
| 1995 | #2,362 | 56 | 0.0032% |
| 1994 | #2,095 | 66 | 0.0037% |
| 1993 | #1,662 | 91 | 0.0050% |
| 1992 | #1,814 | 80 | 0.0043% |
| 1991 | #1,775 | 81 | 0.0043% |
| 1990 | #1,984 | 69 | 0.0036% |
| 1989 | #1,299 | 122 | 0.0066% |
| 1988 | #1,136 | 135 | 0.0076% |
| 1987 | #985 | 160 | 0.0092% |
| 1986 | #1,103 | 135 | 0.0079% |
| 1985 | #960 | 162 | 0.0094% |
| 1984 | #992 | 146 | 0.0087% |
| 1983 | #1,039 | 135 | 0.0081% |
| 1982 | #1,061 | 136 | 0.0080% |
| 1981 | #1,120 | 124 | 0.0074% |
| 1980 | #1,033 | 139 | 0.0084% |
| 1979 | #1,013 | 140 | 0.0087% |
| 1978 | #1,171 | 108 | 0.0071% |
| 1977 | #2,541 | 34 | 0.0022% |
| 1976 | #3,491 | 20 | 0.0014% |
| 1975 | #3,024 | 24 | 0.0016% |
| 1974 | #3,281 | 21 | 0.0014% |
| 1973 | #3,906 | 16 | 0.0011% |
| 1972 | #3,833 | 16 | 0.0011% |
| 1971 | #3,121 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1970 | #6,831 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1969 | #5,820 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1968 | #3,408 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1967 | #3,988 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1966 | #5,648 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #5,647 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #4,456 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1961 | #5,170 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1959 | #6,035 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1958 | #4,415 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1957 | #5,237 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #5,763 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1955 | #4,632 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1954 | #3,647 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1953 | #6,289 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1949 | #5,811 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1948 | #5,797 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1945 | #4,397 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1943 | #4,553 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1941 | #4,295 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1938 | #4,811 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1933 | #3,659 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1932 | #4,286 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1931 | #3,414 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1930 | #2,390 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1929 | #2,540 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1928 | #4,069 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1927 | #2,814 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1926 | #2,325 | 16 | 0.0013% |
| 1925 | #4,319 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1924 | #2,774 | 13 | 0.0010% |
| 1923 | #5,498 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1922 | #4,323 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1921 | #4,932 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1920 | #4,816 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1919 | #4,140 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1917 | #4,457 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1916 | #3,821 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #112 | 3,115 | 0.1824% |
| 2024 | #118 | 3,025 | 0.1764% |
| 2023 | #109 | 3,257 | 0.1906% |
| 2022 | #97 | 3,639 | 0.2086% |
| 2021 | #92 | 3,862 | 0.2209% |
| 2020 | #87 | 4,065 | 0.2356% |
| 2019 | #78 | 4,640 | 0.2587% |
| 2018 | #74 | 4,843 | 0.2668% |
| 2017 | #68 | 5,367 | 0.2901% |
| 2016 | #63 | 5,763 | 0.3038% |
| 2015 | #62 | 6,259 | 0.3266% |
| 2014 | #57 | 6,779 | 0.3530% |
| 2013 | #54 | 7,147 | 0.3779% |
| 2012 | #49 | 7,741 | 0.4081% |
| 2011 | #42 | 8,601 | 0.4529% |
| 2010 | #37 | 9,652 | 0.5031% |
| 2009 | #32 | 10,855 | 0.5473% |
| 2008 | #29 | 12,530 | 0.6142% |
| 2007 | #20 | 14,362 | 0.6921% |
| 2006 | #17 | 15,674 | 0.7627% |
| 2005 | #15 | 17,076 | 0.8550% |
| 2004 | #13 | 18,519 | 0.9330% |
| 2003 | #12 | 19,696 | 0.9971% |
| 2002 | #9 | 21,390 | 1.1017% |
| 2001 | #6 | 22,848 | 1.1760% |
| 2000 | #6 | 24,654 | 1.2553% |
| 1999 | #5 | 25,639 | 1.3353% |
| 1998 | #6 | 26,633 | 1.3934% |
| 1997 | #6 | 27,257 | 1.4459% |
| 1996 | #6 | 27,722 | 1.4635% |
| 1995 | #6 | 29,161 | 1.5319% |
| 1994 | #9 | 27,767 | 1.4373% |
| 1993 | #8 | 28,115 | 1.4335% |
| 1992 | #12 | 27,761 | 1.3899% |
| 1991 | #12 | 27,357 | 1.3541% |
| 1990 | #14 | 27,914 | 1.3590% |
| 1989 | #14 | 28,231 | 1.4109% |
| 1988 | #14 | 25,300 | 1.3217% |
| 1987 | #16 | 23,249 | 1.2453% |
| 1986 | #17 | 22,800 | 1.2381% |
| 1985 | #19 | 22,384 | 1.2111% |
| 1984 | #20 | 21,018 | 1.1645% |
| 1983 | #21 | 19,894 | 1.1097% |
| 1982 | #22 | 19,642 | 1.0824% |
| 1981 | #21 | 19,777 | 1.1040% |
| 1980 | #17 | 21,025 | 1.1785% |
| 1979 | #15 | 21,343 | 1.2397% |
| 1978 | #25 | 16,343 | 0.9953% |
| 1977 | #51 | 6,073 | 0.3696% |
| 1976 | #77 | 3,465 | 0.2208% |
| 1975 | #81 | 3,318 | 0.2125% |
| 1974 | #80 | 3,218 | 0.2046% |
| 1973 | #84 | 3,154 | 0.2024% |
| 1972 | #99 | 2,844 | 0.1754% |
| 1971 | #123 | 2,609 | 0.1475% |
| 1970 | #123 | 2,702 | 0.1454% |
| 1969 | #123 | 2,577 | 0.1441% |
| 1968 | #118 | 2,551 | 0.1468% |
| 1967 | #130 | 2,288 | 0.1312% |
| 1966 | #139 | 2,139 | 0.1199% |
| 1965 | #150 | 2,068 | 0.1112% |
| 1964 | #158 | 2,070 | 0.1039% |
| 1963 | #155 | 2,130 | 0.1049% |
| 1962 | #155 | 2,145 | 0.1037% |
| 1961 | #158 | 2,076 | 0.0977% |
| 1960 | #153 | 2,299 | 0.1078% |
| 1959 | #156 | 2,196 | 0.1029% |
| 1958 | #153 | 2,189 | 0.1031% |
| 1957 | #152 | 2,197 | 0.1018% |
| 1956 | #147 | 2,212 | 0.1046% |
| 1955 | #141 | 2,186 | 0.1061% |
| 1954 | #135 | 2,368 | 0.1161% |
| 1953 | #131 | 2,359 | 0.1196% |
| 1952 | #127 | 2,343 | 0.1205% |
| 1951 | #120 | 2,388 | 0.1268% |
| 1950 | #124 | 2,176 | 0.1215% |
| 1949 | #136 | 1,998 | 0.1126% |
| 1948 | #142 | 1,929 | 0.1099% |
| 1947 | #143 | 1,935 | 0.1058% |
| 1946 | #144 | 1,675 | 0.1031% |
| 1945 | #151 | 1,356 | 0.1008% |
| 1944 | #150 | 1,362 | 0.0999% |
| 1943 | #148 | 1,434 | 0.1005% |
| 1942 | #142 | 1,500 | 0.1086% |
| 1941 | #146 | 1,212 | 0.0987% |
| 1940 | #154 | 1,102 | 0.0951% |
| 1939 | #156 | 1,032 | 0.0932% |
| 1938 | #161 | 989 | 0.0892% |
| 1937 | #159 | 935 | 0.0877% |
| 1936 | #157 | 929 | 0.0896% |
| 1935 | #158 | 911 | 0.0875% |
| 1934 | #165 | 873 | 0.0845% |
| 1933 | #160 | 888 | 0.0896% |
| 1932 | #163 | 925 | 0.0886% |
| 1931 | #145 | 1,103 | 0.1061% |
| 1930 | #147 | 1,131 | 0.1031% |
| 1929 | #142 | 1,192 | 0.1108% |
| 1928 | #140 | 1,216 | 0.1098% |
| 1927 | #137 | 1,272 | 0.1129% |
| 1926 | #133 | 1,319 | 0.1188% |
| 1925 | #133 | 1,332 | 0.1194% |
| 1924 | #122 | 1,488 | 0.1314% |
| 1923 | #120 | 1,468 | 0.1339% |
| 1922 | #122 | 1,414 | 0.1299% |
| 1921 | #114 | 1,553 | 0.1410% |
| 1920 | #124 | 1,354 | 0.1272% |
| 1919 | #122 | 1,321 | 0.1348% |
| 1918 | #113 | 1,488 | 0.1468% |
| 1917 | #109 | 1,412 | 0.1526% |
| 1916 | #107 | 1,419 | 0.1594% |
| 1915 | #104 | 1,427 | 0.1682% |
| 1914 | #102 | 1,151 | 0.1758% |
| 1913 | #110 | 796 | 0.1553% |
| 1912 | #113 | 676 | 0.1572% |
| 1911 | #120 | 308 | 0.1363% |
| 1910 | #137 | 235 | 0.1210% |
| 1909 | #133 | 204 | 0.1244% |
| 1908 | #113 | 226 | 0.1464% |
| 1907 | #143 | 161 | 0.1097% |
| 1906 | #143 | 144 | 0.1081% |
| 1905 | #173 | 112 | 0.0847% |
| 1904 | #180 | 102 | 0.0796% |
| 1903 | #184 | 90 | 0.0755% |
| 1902 | #159 | 112 | 0.0913% |
| 1901 | #169 | 88 | 0.0827% |
| 1900 | #200 | 95 | 0.0631% |
| 1899 | #196 | 69 | 0.0650% |
| 1898 | #172 | 94 | 0.0766% |
| 1897 | #178 | 87 | 0.0772% |
| 1896 | #157 | 106 | 0.0887% |
| 1895 | #187 | 84 | 0.0716% |
| 1894 | #193 | 77 | 0.0665% |
| 1893 | #163 | 89 | 0.0792% |
| 1892 | #168 | 95 | 0.0778% |
| 1891 | #165 | 78 | 0.0771% |
| 1890 | #175 | 78 | 0.0703% |
| 1889 | #194 | 68 | 0.0615% |
| 1888 | #157 | 97 | 0.0803% |
| 1887 | #158 | 79 | 0.0779% |
| 1886 | #165 | 85 | 0.0767% |
| 1885 | #196 | 66 | 0.0612% |
| 1884 | #194 | 69 | 0.0603% |
| 1883 | #175 | 71 | 0.0679% |
| 1882 | #196 | 66 | 0.0581% |
| 1881 | #204 | 56 | 0.0556% |
| 1880 | #178 | 73 | 0.0661% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
