Nikolai vs Sam

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Nikolai

Boy #590 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"victory of the people"

Origin: Greek (Nikolaos)

Cultural Roots

Russian Eastern European Scandinavian Bulgarian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#590
Total SSA Count
484
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Nik, Niko, Kolya

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Nikolai →

Sam

Boy #652 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"name of God"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

English American Hebrew Scandinavian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#652
Total SSA Count
423
Syllables
1
Formality
Casual
Nicknames
Sammy

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Sam →

Popularity Comparison

Nikolai Rank #590
Sam Rank #652

Nikolai is more popular, ranked #590 vs #652 for Sam.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Nikolai ___

  • Nikolai James
  • Nikolai Alexander
  • Nikolai Ivan
  • Nikolai Constantine
  • Nikolai Sebastian
  • Nikolai Theodore

Sam ___

  • Sam James
  • Sam Lee
  • Sam Alexander
  • Sam William
  • Sam Cole
  • Sam David

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Nikolai

Alexei Dmitri Tatiana Natasha Ivan

If you choose Sam

Jack Lucy Ella Tom Lily

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nikolai or Sam more popular?

Nikolai is more popular, ranked #590 compared to Sam at #652 in the United States.

What do Nikolai and Sam mean?

Nikolai means "victory of the people" (Greek (Nikolaos) origin). Sam means "name of God" (Hebrew origin).

Are Nikolai and Sam boy or girl names?

Nikolai is primarily a boy name. Sam is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

Sam vs Nikolai Nikolai vs Dilan Nikolai vs Kyson Nikolai vs Keith Nikolai vs Royal
← Full profile: Nikolai ← Full profile: Sam Browse all baby names