Nicola
Nicola or Nichola is a Latinised version of the Greek personal name Nikolaos (Νικόλαος), derived from the nikē meaning "victory", and laos meaning "people", therefore implying the meaning "victory of the people". Nicola is both a male and female name, depending on cultural norms.
- Italian
- German
- English
Meaning & Origin of Nicola
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Nicola or Nichola is a Latinised version of the Greek personal name Nikolaos (Νικόλαος), derived from the nikē meaning "victory", and laos meaning "people", therefore implying the meaning "victory of the people". Nicola is both a male and female name, depending on cultural norms.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Italian
- German
- English
The Story of Nicola
As a girl name
Nicola first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1920, with 5 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 1972: 183 births, good for #760 nationwide. The 1970s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 26% of all recorded Nicolas. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #6,409 among girl names with 18 births, rising sharply (+34% over the past five years). In total, more than 5K Nicolas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1920s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Nicola as a boy name dates back to 1908, when 6 babies received it. 1972 was its biggest year on record, with 53 newborns named Nicola — #1,120 in the national rankings. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #3,337 among boy names with 36 births, rising sharply (+21% over the past five years). In total, more than 3K Nicolas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1900s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Nicola
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Nicola. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Nicola
Phonetically similar names — useful when Nicola 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 Nicola
What does the name Nicola mean?
What is the origin of the name Nicola?
How popular is Nicola in 2026?
When was Nicola most popular?
In which U.S. states is Nicola most popular?
Is Nicola a unisex name?
What names go well with Nicola?
What are nicknames or variants of Nicola?
About the name Nicola
Nicola is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1920 and has accumulated 5K births in the dataset. Nicola's peak popularity came in 1972 when it ranked #760. Use the chart and map above to compare Nicola's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1972 →
- Names of the 1970s →
- Names starting with "N" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.