William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
Nicholas
BoyGreek· “victory of the people”
- Meaning
- victory of the people
- Origin
- Greek
- Pronunciation
- NIH-kuh-luhs
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #112
- US babies 2025
- 3,115
- Best rank
- #5 (1999)
- Peak year
- 1995
Meaning and origin of Nicholas
Nicholas is a Greek name that means “victory of the people”.
Nicholas comes from the Greek Nikolaos, formed from nike, "victory", and laos, "people", so it means "victory of the people". Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, became renowned for secret generosity and is the origin of Santa Claus. Devotion to him made the name common across Europe, from Nicolas in France to Nikolai in Russia, where two emperors bore it. Five popes took the name, and the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus carried a Latin form. The name feels classic and warm. Nick and Nicky are nicknames, and Nicolas and Nikolas are common variant spellings.
Other spellings with the same sound: Nicolas.
Popularity over time
Nicholas has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #5 in 1999, and the most babies received it in 1995, when 29,160 were named Nicholas. In 2025, 3,115 babies were named Nicholas, and it ranked #112 nationally. That is 50% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #124 in 1920, #124 in 1950, #17 in 1980, #6 in 2000, #37 in 2010, and #112 in 2025. Of the 926,047 US boys named Nicholas since records began, 30% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 223,308 babies. Since 2010, 87,799 more have been named Nicholas.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Tyler and Austin.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Nicholas ranked highest in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | #40 | 192 |
| New York | #52 | 310 |
| Connecticut | #60 | 57 |
| Rhode Island | #65 | 16 |
| Pennsylvania | #70 | 166 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Nicholas is usually pronounced NIH-kuh-luhs, with three syllables. It has eight letters, starts with N and ends in “-as”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Nicolas.
Middle names for Nicholas
A few middle names that flow with Nicholas: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Nicholas
Similar names
Matthias Boy
muh-THY-uhs
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toh-BY-uhs
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LOO-kuhs
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ehs-TEH-bahn
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Darius Boy
duh-RY-uhs
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muh-THY-uhs
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Nikolai Boy
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Thaddeus Boy
THAD-ee-uhs
Aramaic
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Sebastian Boy
suh-BAS-chuhn
“from Sebaste; venerable” · Latin
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Thomas Boy
TAH-muhs
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Elias Boy
ih-LY-uhs
“my God is Yahweh” · Greek
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Silas Boy
SY-luhs
“of the forest” · Latin
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Lists that include Nicholas
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nicholas mean?
Nicholas is a Greek name that means “victory of the people”.
What is the origin of the name Nicholas?
Nicholas has Greek roots. Nicholas comes from the Greek Nikolaos, formed from nike, "victory", and laos, "people", so it means "victory of the people".
Is Nicholas a popular name?
Yes. Nicholas ranked #112 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Nicholas a boy or girl name?
Nicholas is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Nicholas?
Nicholas is usually pronounced NIH-kuh-luhs. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings