Nicki
Nicki was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1972, when it ranked 736th with 190 babies. More babies were named Nicki in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Nikki) pet form of Nicole/Nicola · English, Greek
- Rank in 2025
- Not rankedgirls
- Babies in 2025
- 0girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1972190 babies
- Total since 1880
- 6,380babies recorded
What does the name Nicki mean?
Nicki is a spelling of Nikki, pronounced the same way, so it shares Nikki's meaning and origin.
Nikki is a 20th-century spelling of Nicky, a pet form of Nicole, Nicola and related names. Nicole is the French feminine of Nicolas (Nicholas), from Greek nikē, "victory", and laos, "people". Wikipedia notes Nikki is also used for other names, and separately as a Punjabi name meaning "little one". Nikki was most popular in the US around 1970.
νίκη (Greek, “victory”)λαός (Greek, “people”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Nicole, Nicky, Nicola, Nichole.
See also: Greek names, names that mean victory.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Nikki', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Nicholas', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wikipedia, 'Nikki (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Nicki popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 297 since 1941.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2020 | #10,865 | 9 |
| 2010 | #12,001 | 9 |
| 2000 | #6,719 | 16 |
| 1990 | #2,247 | 57 |
| 1980 | #993 | 149 |
| 1970 | #1,071 | 114 |
| 1960 | #1,111 | 95 |
| 1950 | #866 | 105 |
| 1940 | #2,183 | 15 |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Nicki, counting every spelling?
Nicki is a spelling of Nikki, a name family that had 57 girls in 2025 across its spellings. Together these spellings went to 57 girls in 2025.
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How old are people named Nicki?
About 5,300 people born in the US named Nicki are alive today, with a median age of 52; half are between 42 and 65. That makes Nicki mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Nicki by state
How common Nicki was among girls born in each state in 1970–1974, around its peak. In 29 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Nicki: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Nicki, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Nicki
What does Nicki mean?
Nicki is a spelling of Nikki, which means “pet form of Nicole/Nicola” (English, Greek origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Nicki?
Nicki was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1972, when it ranked 736th with 190 babies. More babies were named Nicki in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Is Nicki a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Nicki in the US.
Where was Nicki most popular?
In 1970–1974, Nicki was most common in Oregon (0.24 per 1,000 girls), followed by Idaho and Iowa.