Boy · #127 in 2026

Nicholas

Nicholas is a male name, the Anglophone version of an ancient Greek name in use since antiquity, and cognate with the modern Greek Νικόλαος, Nikolaos. It originally derived from a combination of two Greek words meaning 'victory' and 'people'. In turn, the name means "victory of the people."

Current Rank
#127
Peak Rank
#5 (1995)
Total Babies
929K
5-Yr Trend
-31%
1916
First Year
2022
Last Year
1985
Peak Year
#957
Peak Rank
3K
Total Count
87
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Nicholas

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Nicholas is a male name, the Anglophone version of an ancient Greek name in use since antiquity, and cognate with the modern Greek Νικόλαος, Nikolaos. It originally derived from a combination of two Greek words meaning 'victory' and 'people'. In turn, the name means "victory of the people."

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Nicholas

Nicholas first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1880, with 73 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1995, when 29,161 Nicholass were born — ranking #6 that year. As of 2026, Nicholas ranks #127 for baby boys with 2,817 births, falling sharply (-31%). In total, more than 929K Nicholass have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through 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

Notable people named Nicholas

A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.

  • Nicholas of Myra
  • Nicholas of Trani

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Names that sound like Nicholas

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

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Nicholas

What does the name Nicholas mean?
Nicholas is a male name, the Anglophone version of an ancient Greek name in use since antiquity, and cognate with the modern Greek Νικόλαος, Nikolaos. It originally derived from a combination of two Greek words meaning 'victory' and 'people'. In turn, the name means "victory of the people."
How popular is Nicholas in 2026?
In 2026, Nicholas ranks #127 among boys' names in the U.S., with 2,817 babies given the name that year.
When was Nicholas most popular?
Nicholas reached its peak popularity in 1995, ranking #5 that year with 29,161 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Nicholas most popular?
Nicholas has historically been most popular in Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Nicholas.
Is Nicholas a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Nicholas is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Nicholas?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Nicholas include Joseph, Richard, Andrew. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

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About the name Nicholas

Nicholas is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 929K births in the dataset. Nicholas's peak popularity came in 1995 when it ranked #5. Use the chart and map above to compare Nicholas's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . 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 (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

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.