Nicol
Nicol was the 7052nd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 16 babies. Its best year was 1970, when it ranked 1006th with 125 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,072 places. More babies were named Nicol in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Nicole) victory of the people (feminine of Nicholas) · Greek, French
- Rank in 2025
- #7,052 girls, up 800 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 16girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1970125 babies
- Total since 1880
- 2,248babies recorded
What does the name Nicol mean?
Nicol is a spelling of Nicole, pronounced the same way, so it shares Nicole's meaning and origin.
Nicole is the French feminine of Nicolas (Nicholas). DMNES derives Nicholas from Greek nikē, "victory", and laos, "people", and records feminine forms such as Nichola and Coleta in medieval England. Nicole was taken into English from French in the 20th century and became one of the most common girls' names in the US in the 1970s and 1980s.
νίκη (Ancient Greek, “victory”)λαός (Ancient Greek, “people”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Nicola, Nichole, Nikki, Colette, Nicholas.
See also: Greek names, names that mean victory.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Nicole', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Nicole', DMNES, Durham University
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Nicholas', DMNES, Durham University
Nicol popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 28 since 1968.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,052 | 16 |
| 2020 | #7,852 | 14 |
| 2010 | #4,576 | 32 |
| 2000 | #3,958 | 32 |
| 1990 | #6,046 | 15 |
| 1980 | #2,238 | 45 |
| 1970 | #1,006 | 125 |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Nicol, counting every spelling?
Nicol is a spelling of Nicole, a name family that ranked #346 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #7,052 for Nicol on its own. Together these spellings went to 959 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicole | 803 | #383 | 4,660 |
| Nicolle | 65 | #2,678 | 256 |
| Nichole | 46 | #3,373 | 248 |
| Nicol | 16 | #7,052 | 105 |
| Nikole | 18 | #6,487 | 90 |
| Nikol | 11 | #9,293 | 39 |
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 many kids will share the name Nicol?
16 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Nicol (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Nicol born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 529 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Nicol.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Nicol?
About 2,100 people born in the US named Nicol are alive today, with a median age of 45; half are between 22 and 54. That makes Nicol 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.
Nicol by state
How common Nicol was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. In 50 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 Nicol: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Nicol, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Nicol
What does Nicol mean?
Nicol is a spelling of Nicole, which means “victory of the people (feminine of Nicholas)” (Greek, French origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Nicol?
Nicol was the 7052nd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 16 babies. Its best year was 1970, when it ranked 1006th with 125 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,072 places. More babies were named Nicol in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Is Nicol a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Nicol in the US.
Where is Nicol most popular?
In 2021–2025, Nicol was most common in Texas (0.01 per 1,000 girls).