Boy · #324 in 2026

Niko

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

Current Rank

#324

Peak Rank

#287 (2022)

Total Babies

16K

5-Yr Trend

+40%

1968

First Year

2026

Last Year

1972

Peak Year

#2903

Peak Rank

521

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Niko

Niko first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1962, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2022, when 1,191 Nikos were born — ranking #287 that year. As of 2026, Niko ranks #324 for baby boys with 1,068 births, rising sharply (+40% over the past five years). In total, more than 16K Nikos have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Niko

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

Nico
Nikko
Neco
Neko
Nikkei
Naco
Nicho
Necco
Nigo
Niku
Noco
Nako

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Niko

What does the name Niko mean?

Niko 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 Niko in 2026?

In 2026, Niko ranks #324 among boys' names in the U.S., with 1,068 babies given the name that year.

When was Niko most popular?

Niko reached its peak popularity in 2022, ranking #287 that year with 1,191 babies given the name.

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

Niko has historically been most popular in Hawaii, Montana, New Mexico. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Niko.

Is Niko a unisex name?

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

What names go well with Niko?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Niko include Merlin, Kendall, Jensen. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Niko

Niko is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1962 and has accumulated 16K births in the dataset. Niko's peak popularity came in 2022 when it ranked #287. Use the chart and map above to compare Niko'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.