"people's champion, victorious"
Origin: Greek
Language: French
Nicholas
Pronunciation: [ n-IHK-uhl-uhs ]
Does Nicholas flow with your last name?
The people's champion — and Santa Claus's real name
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Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Meaning & Origin
"victory of the people"
Origin: Greek
Language: English
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The Story of Nicholas
Nicholas comes from the Greek Nikolaos, combining 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people), meaning 'victory of the people'. The name spread throughout the Christian world largely due to Saint Nicholas of Myra (4th century), a bishop famous for his generosity — especially his secret gift-giving to those in need. His legend, filtered through Dutch Sinterklaas, gave the world Santa Claus.
Nicholas dominated US baby name charts in the late 20th century, ranking in the top 10 from the early 1980s through the 1990s. It benefited from associations with Saint Nicholas (Christmas) and popular culture figures. While it has slipped from its peak, the name remains a perennial top-100 staple.
Saint Nicholas of Myra is venerated in both Eastern and Western Christianity and is the patron saint of children, sailors, merchants, and many nations. His Dutch adaptation Sinterklaas became Santa Claus — arguably the world's most recognizable charitable figure. Multiple Russian tsars bore the name Nicholas.
Historical Record
Nicholas first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 870,916 babies have been named Nicholas in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Nicholas is past its peak , currently ranked #117 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Saint Nicholas — the origin of Santa Claus — was a real 4th-century bishop in what is now Turkey
- Two Russian tsars were named Nicholas, including the last tsar Nicholas II
- Nicholas has been a top-10 US boy name in some form for nearly 30 years
Nicholas in Other Languages
Dutch
Nicolaas
Greek
Νικόλαος
Arabic
نيكولاس
French
Nicolas
German
Nikolaus
Italian
Nicola
Russian
Николай (Nikolai)
Spanish
Nicolás
Popularity Over Time
#117
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Peaked 1999
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Nicholas
N
Nicolas Cage
Actor
1964
American actor and Academy Award winner known for Leaving Las Vegas and National Treasure
N
Nicholas Cage
Actor
1964
Academy Award-winning American actor known for Con Air, Leaving Las Vegas, and Moonstruck
N
Nicholas II
Politician
1868
Last Emperor of Russia, whose reign ended with the Russian Revolution of 1917
T
Tsar Nicholas II
Royalty
1868
Last Emperor of Russia, whose abdication ended three centuries of Romanov rule
S
Saint Nicholas of Myra
Religious
280
4th-century Christian bishop whose legendary generosity inspired the Santa Claus tradition
S
Saint Nicholas
Other
270
4th century Christian bishop whose legendary gift-giving inspired the Santa Claus tradition
N
Nick Carraway Fictional
Writer
Narrator and moral center of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby (1925)
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Compare Nicholas with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #117
- Total SSA Count
- 3,025
- Cultural Origins
- English Greek French Italian Russian German Dutch
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Popular in These States
Top states by rank · 2024
Common Nicknames
Nick
Nicky
Nico
Cole
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Nicholas
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Girl Name
Nicholas is also used as a girl name, ranked #39080.
View Nicholas as a girl name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Nicholas
What does the name Nicholas mean?
"people's champion, victorious" (from Greek). "victory of the people" (from Greek). Nicholas comes from the Greek Nikolaos, combining 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people), meaning 'victory of the people'. The name spread throughout the Christian world largely due to Saint Nicholas of Myra (4th century), a bishop famous for his generosity — especially his secret gift-giving to those in need. His legend, filtered through Dutch Sinterklaas, gave the world Santa Claus.
What is the origin of the name Nicholas?
Nicholas has Greek, English, French, Italian, Russian, German, and Dutch origins. In Greek, it means "people's champion, victorious". In Greek, it means "victory of the people".
Is Nicholas a boy or girl name?
Nicholas is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #117. As a girl name, it is ranked #39080. Nicholas is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Nicholas?
Nicholas is pronounced n-IHK-uhl-uhs.
How popular is the name Nicholas?
Nicholas is currently ranked #117 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Nicholas?
Common nicknames for Nicholas include Nick, Nicky, Nico, and Cole.
What are good middle names for Nicholas?
Popular middle name pairings include Nicholas James, Nicholas Alexander, Nicholas Thomas, Nicholas William, Nicholas Robert, Nicholas Edward, and Nicholas Joseph.
What are good sibling names for Nicholas?
Names that pair well with Nicholas as siblings include Alexander, Sebastian, Charlotte, Sophia, Natalie, Andrew, and Catherine.
How many syllables does Nicholas have?
Nicholas has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Nicholas a common or rare name?
Nicholas is a popular name, ranked #117 for boys. It is well-known without being overused.
About the Name Nicholas
Nicholas is a boy name with English, Greek, French, Italian, Russian, German, and Dutch origins . The name means "people's champion, victorious" in Greek .
Is Nicholas a boy or girl name? Nicholas is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #117 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #39,080. Nicholas is more commonly used as a boy name.
Nicholas is currently ranked #117 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Nicholas has 3 syllables and is pronounced n-IHK-uhl-uhs, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Nicholas include Nick, Nicky, Nico, and Cole. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis