Nils vs Ole

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Nils

Boy #4,894 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"victory of the people"

Origin: Greek (Nikolaos)

Cultural Roots

Swedish Norwegian Danish Finnish Germanic

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#4,894
Total SSA Count
20
Syllables
1
Formality
Moderate

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Nils →

Ole

Boy #5,083 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"ancestor's relic, descendant"

Origin: Old Norse

Cultural Roots

Norwegian Danish Swedish Scandinavian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#5,083
Total SSA Count
19
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Olle

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Ole →

Popularity Comparison

Nils Rank #4,894
Ole Rank #5,083

Nils is more popular, ranked #4894 vs #5083 for Ole.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Nils ___

  • Nils Erik
  • Nils Johan
  • Nils Lars
  • Nils Gustav
  • Nils Axel
  • Nils Henrik

Ole ___

  • Ole Erik
  • Ole Magnus
  • Ole Johan
  • Ole James
  • Ole Lars
  • Ole William

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Nils

Astrid Ingrid Sigrid Lars Erik

If you choose Ole

Sven Lars Astrid Ingrid Frida

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 Nils or Ole more popular?

Nils is more popular, ranked #4894 compared to Ole at #5083 in the United States.

What do Nils and Ole mean?

Nils means "victory of the people" (Greek (Nikolaos) origin). Ole means "ancestor's relic, descendant" (Old Norse origin).

Are Nils and Ole boy or girl names?

Nils is primarily a boy name. Ole is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

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← Full profile: Nils ← Full profile: Ole Browse all baby names