Nicholas: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced NIK-uh-luhs · 3 syllables
Nicholas means “victory of the people”, from Greek.
From Middle English Nicholas, from Old French Nicholas, from Latin Nicolaus, from Ancient Greek (Nikolaos), from (nike, “victory”) + (laos, “people”).
- Meaning
- victory of the people
- Origin
- Greek
- Pronunciation
- NIK-uh-luhs
- US rank (2025)
- #112
- US babies a year
- about 3,387 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 1990
- Style
- Classic, Biblical
- Nicknames
- Nick, Nicky, Nico
How popular is Nicholas?
Nicholas was the #112 name in the US in 2025, given to 3,123 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 54% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1990.
Around the world
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| United States | #112 |
| England & Wales | #176 |
| Scotland | #239 |
| Northern Ireland | #392 |
| Ireland | #199 |
| Norway | #308 |
| Canada | #135 |
| Australia | #118 |
How old are people named Nicholas?
Half of US adults named Nicholas are older than 34; most are between 20 and 60. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Sibling names for Nicholas
Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Nicholas have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.
Names like Nicholas
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
On these lists
Questions about Nicholas
What does the name Nicholas mean?
Nicholas means “victory of the people”. It comes from Greek.
How do you pronounce Nicholas?
Nicholas is pronounced NIK-uh-luhs.
How popular is the name Nicholas?
Nicholas was the #112 name in the US in 2025, given to 3,123 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 54% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1990.
How old are people named Nicholas?
Half of US adults named Nicholas are older than 34. Most are between 20 and 60.