Boy · #12,490 in 2026

Nichols

Name: Popularity of the name Nichols in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Nichols, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Current Rank

#12,490

Peak Rank

#1,337 (1987)

Total Babies

758

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1914

First Year

2009

Last Year

1987

Peak Year

#1337

Peak Rank

758

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Nichols

Nichols first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1914, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1987, when 55 Nicholss were born — ranking #1,337 that year. As of 2026, Nichols ranks #12,490 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 758 Nicholss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Nichols

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

Nickels
Nickles
Nicholls
Nicols
Knuckles
Nuckles
Nuckolls
Nuckols
Niggles
Nicholes
Mickles
Mikels

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Nichols

What does the name Nichols mean?

Nichols is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1914. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Nichols in 2026?

In 2026, Nichols ranks #12,490 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.

When was Nichols most popular?

Nichols reached its peak popularity in 1987, ranking #1,337 that year with 55 babies given the name.

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

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

Is Nichols a unisex name?

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

What names go well with Nichols?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Nichols include Vint, Corderro, Sherrod. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Nichols

Nichols is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1914 and has accumulated 758 births in the dataset. Nichols's peak popularity came in 1987 when it ranked #1,337. Use the chart and map above to compare Nichols'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.