Nikola
Nikola is a given name which, like Nicholas, is a version of the Greek Nikolaos (Νικόλαος) and it means "the winner of the people". It is common as a masculine given name in the South Slavic countries, while in West Slavic countries it is primarily found as a feminine given name.
Meaning & Origin of Nikola
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Nikola is a given name which, like Nicholas, is a version of the Greek Nikolaos (Νικόλαος) and it means "the winner of the people". It is common as a masculine given name in the South Slavic countries, while in West Slavic countries it is primarily found as a feminine given name.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Nikola
As a girl name
Nikola first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1948, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1972, when 20 Nikolas were born — ranking #3,179 that year. As of 2026, Nikola ranks #13,427 for girls with 6 births, falling sharply (-39%). In total, more than 651 Nikolas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1940s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Nikola first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1960, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2020, when 151 Nikolas were born — ranking #1,237 that year. As of 2026, Nikola ranks #1,683 for boys with 101 births, falling sharply (-21%). In total, more than 4K Nikolas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Nikola
Phonetically similar names — useful when Nikola 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 Nikola
What does the name Nikola mean?
How popular is Nikola in 2026?
When was Nikola most popular?
In which U.S. states is Nikola most popular?
Is Nikola a unisex name?
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About the name Nikola
Nikola is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1960 and has accumulated 4K births in the dataset. Nikola's peak popularity came in 2020 when it ranked #1,237. Use the chart and map above to compare Nikola's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2020 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "N" →
- Browse all boy 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.