Boy · #627 in 2026

Nikolai

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

Current Rank

#627

Peak Rank

#473 (2016)

Total Babies

11K

5-Yr Trend

-18%

1960

First Year

2026

Last Year

2016

Peak Year

#473

Peak Rank

11K

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Nikolai

Nikolai first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1960, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2016, when 639 Nikolais were born — ranking #480 that year. As of 2026, Nikolai ranks #627 for baby boys with 455 births, falling sharply (-18%). In total, more than 11K Nikolais 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 Nikolai

Phonetically similar names — useful when Nikolai 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 Nikolai

What does the name Nikolai mean?

Nikolai is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1960. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Nikolai in 2026?

In 2026, Nikolai ranks #627 among boys' names in the U.S., with 455 babies given the name that year.

When was Nikolai most popular?

Nikolai reached its peak popularity in 2016, ranking #473 that year with 639 babies given the name.

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

Nikolai has historically been most popular in Alaska, South Dakota, New Mexico. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Nikolai.

Is Nikolai a unisex name?

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

What names go well with Nikolai?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Nikolai include Raylan, Augustine, Harland. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Nikolai

Nikolai is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1960 and has accumulated 11K births in the dataset. Nikolai's peak popularity came in 2016 when it ranked #473. Use the chart and map above to compare Nikolai'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.