ESC 

Name Rank Total 

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1962

First Year

2026

Last Year

2017

Peak Year

#2466

Peak Rank

1K

Total Count

51

Years Active

📖

## The Story of Nicholai

The earliest SSA record of Nicholai as a baby boy name dates back to 1962, when 5 babies received it. 2017 was its biggest year on record, with 51 newborns named Nicholai — #2,492 in the national rankings. About 38% of every Nicholai on record arrived during the 2010s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Nicholai ranks #6,687 for baby boys with 12 births, falling sharply (-56%). All told, over 1K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1960s to the 2020s.

## Popularity Over Time

## Popularity by State

ME

WA

MT

ND

MN

WI

MI

NY

VT

NH

MA

OR

ID

SD

IA

IL

IN

OH

PA

NJ

CT

RI

CA

NV

WY

NE

MO

KY

WV

VA

MD

DE

DC

UT

CO

KS

AR

TN

NC

SC

AK

AZ

NM

OK

LA

MS

AL

GA

HI

TX

FL

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

🎶

## Names that sound like Nicholai

Phonetically similar names — useful when Nicholai is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name. 

* [Nikolai](/nikolai)
* [Nikolaj](/nikolaj)
* [Nicolae](/nicolae)
* [Nicola](/nicola)
* [Nikola](/nikola)
* [Nicole](/nicole)
* [Nichole](/nichole)
* [Nicolle](/nicolle)
* [Nikole](/nikole)
* [Nicolo](/nicolo)
* [Niccolo](/niccolo)
* [Nicholes](/nicholes)

Source: [Datamuse ](https://www.datamuse.com/api/). Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated. 

❓

## Frequently Asked Questions about Nicholai

What does the name Nicholai mean?

Nicholai is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1962\. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Nicholai in 2026?

In 2026, Nicholai ranks #6,687 among boys' names in the U.S., with 12 babies given the name that year.

When was Nicholai most popular?

Nicholai reached its peak popularity in 2017, ranking #2,466 that year with 51 babies given the name.

In which U.S. states is Nicholai most popular?

Nicholai has historically been most popular in Alaska, New York, Texas. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Nicholai.

Is Nicholai a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Nicholai is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Nicholai?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Nicholai include Maynor, Tydus, Echo. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

## Similar Names

[👦MaynorPeak #2466](/maynor)[👦TydusPeak #2466](/tydus)[👦EchoPeak #2466](/echo)[👦ShynePeak #2466](/shyne)[👦ArushPeak #2466](/arush)[👦NolliePeak #2465](/nollie)[👦OkiePeak #2465](/okie)[👦CanutoPeak #2465](/canuto)

## About the name Nicholai 

Nicholai is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1962 and has accumulated 1K births in the dataset. Nicholai's peak popularity came in 2017 when it ranked #2,466\. Use the chart and map above to compare Nicholai's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

### Continue exploring 

* [ Top names of 2017 → ](/year/2017)
* [ Names of the 2010s → ](/decade/2010s)
* [ Names starting with "N" → ](/letter/n)
* [ Browse all boy names → ](/names/boys)
* [ Top names of 2026 → ](/year/2026)

Data sources

* Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. [Social Security Administration ](https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/). Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
* Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — [Behind the Name ](https://www.behindthename.com/) (used under their public API terms).
* Meaning prose and editorial summary — [Wikipedia ](https://en.wikipedia.org/) article extracts, licensed under [CC BY-SA 3.0 ](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/).
* Predicted nationality distribution — [Nationalize.io ](https://nationalize.io/).
* Phonetically similar names — [Datamuse ](https://www.datamuse.com/api/).

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.