Boy · #12,301 in 2026

Nik

Nik is a male nickname/moniker derived from the Ancient Greek word νίκη (nike), meaning 'victory'.

  • English
  • Greek
  • Slovene
Current Rank
#12,301
Peak Rank
#7,638 (2005)
Total Babies
211
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1964
First Year
2024
Last Year
2005
Peak Year
#7638
Peak Rank
211
Total Count
33
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Nik

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

Nik is a male nickname/moniker derived from the Ancient Greek word νίκη (nike), meaning 'victory'.

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

Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)

  • English
  • Greek
  • Slovene

The Story of Nik

The earliest SSA record of Nik as a baby boy name dates back to 1964, when 5 babies received it. 2005 was its biggest year on record, with 9 newborns named Nik — #7,638 in the national rankings. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 26% of all recorded Niks. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 211 Niks have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s 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

Variants & Related Forms of Nik

Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Nik. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Names that sound like Nik

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

  • Nick
  • Nic
  • Knick
  • Nek
  • Nyk
  • Knic
  • Nicc
  • Neck
  • Kneck
  • Nuck
  • Nec
  • Knuck

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Nik

What does the name Nik mean?
Nik is a male nickname/moniker derived from the Ancient Greek word νίκη (nike), meaning 'victory'.
What is the origin of the name Nik?
Nik has roots in the following cultural and linguistic traditions: English, Greek, Slovene.
How popular is Nik in 2026?
In 2026, Nik ranks #12,301 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Nik most popular?
Nik reached its peak popularity in 2005, ranking #7,638 that year with 9 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Nik most popular?
Nik has historically been most popular in California. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Nik.
Is Nik a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Nik is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Nik?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Nik include Chiam, Tyrod, Duvon. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.
What are nicknames or variants of Nik?
Common variants and related forms of Nik include Miklavž, Nicholas, Nickolas, Nicolaos, Niko, Nikola. These cover foreign-language equivalents, alternate spellings, and short forms.

About the name Nik

Nik is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1964 and has accumulated 211 births in the dataset. Nik's peak popularity came in 2005 when it ranked #7,638. Use the chart and map above to compare Nik'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.