Nicolas
Nicolas was the 177th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,053 babies. Its best year was 1998, when it ranked 132nd; the most babies were born in 2003 (3,003). Over the last ten years it has moved up 25 places. More babies were named Nicolas in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Nicholas) victory of the people · Greek
- Rank in 2025
- #177 boys, up 25 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 2,053boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20033,003 babies
- Total since 1880
- 101,764babies recorded
What does the name Nicolas mean?
Nicolas is a spelling of Nicholas, pronounced the same way, so it shares Nicholas's meaning and origin.
Nicholas comes from the Greek Nikolaos, made of nike, 'victory', and laos, 'people'. Its fame rests on Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, whose legend of secret gift-giving grew into Santa Claus, as DMNES notes. The name spread widely in medieval Europe; DMNES finds it in England from the 12th century, along with short forms such as Colin and Nic that became surnames. Nick, Nico, Nikolai and Klaus are among its many forms.
νίκη (Ancient Greek, “victory”)λαός (Ancient Greek, “people”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Nick, Nico, Nicolas, Nikolai, Niklaus, Klaus, Colin, Nicole.
See also: Greek names, names that mean victory.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Nicholas', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Wiktionary, entry 'Nicholas', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Nicolas popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 179 since 1932.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #177 | 2,053 |
| 2020 | #202 | 1,894 |
| 2010 | #163 | 2,392 |
| 2000 | #137 | 2,846 |
| 1990 | #187 | 1,643 |
| 1980 | #260 | 847 |
| 1970 | #547 | 221 |
| 1960 | #678 | 134 |
| 1950 | #713 | 93 |
| 1940 | #807 | 60 |
| 1930 | #729 | 76 |
| 1920 | #804 | 70 |
| 1910 | #849 | 14 |
| 1900 | #1,442 | 5 |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Nicolas, counting every spelling?
Nicolas is a spelling of Nicholas, a name family that ranked #65 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #177 for Nicolas on its own. Together these spellings went to 5,168 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas | 3,115 | #112 | 16,923 |
| Nicolas | 2,053 | #177 | 9,949 |
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 Nicolas?
2,053 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Nicolas (0.57 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Nicolas 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 4 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Nicolas.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Nicolas?
About 96,500 people born in the US named Nicolas are alive today, with a median age of 22; half are between 13 and 31. That makes Nicolas mostly worn by children and young adults.
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.
Nicolas by state
How common Nicolas was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in District of Columbia (2.2×), California (2.0×), Connecticut (1.9×), Florida (1.8×), Texas (1.8×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Mississippi, New Hampshire, Kentucky.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Nicolas: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Nicolas, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Nicolas
What does Nicolas mean?
Nicolas is a spelling of Nicholas, which means “victory of the people” (Greek origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Nicolas?
Nicolas was the 177th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,053 babies. Its best year was 1998, when it ranked 132nd; the most babies were born in 2003 (3,003). Over the last ten years it has moved up 25 places. More babies were named Nicolas in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Nicolas a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Nicolas in the US.
Where is Nicolas most popular?
In 2021–2025, Nicolas was most common in District of Columbia (2.57 per 1,000 boys), followed by California and Connecticut.