Nicholas vs River

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Nicholas

Boy #117 Most Popular 3 Syllables

"people's champion, victorious"

Origin: Greek

English Greek French Italian Russian German Dutch

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Boy #112 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"flowing body of water, stream"

Origin: Old French

English American Australian

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Nicholas Rank #117

River Rank #112

River is more popular, ranked #112 vs #117 for Nicholas.

Is Nicholas or River more popular?

River is more popular, ranked #112 compared to Nicholas at #117 in the United States.

What do Nicholas and River mean?

Nicholas means "people's champion, victorious" (Greek origin). River means "flowing body of water, stream" (Old French origin).

Are Nicholas and River boy or girl names?

Nicholas is primarily a boy name. River is primarily a boy name.