William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
Nick
BoyEnglish, Greek· “short for Nicholas; victory of the people”
- Meaning
- short for Nicholas; victory of the people
- Origin
- English, Greek
- Pronunciation
- NIHK
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #1,447
- US babies 2025
- 124
- Best rank
- #173 (1918)
- Peak year
- 1960
Meaning and origin of Nick
Nick is an English and Greek name that means “short for Nicholas; victory of the people”.
Nick is a short form of Nicholas, which comes from the Greek elements nike, "victory," and laos, "people," so it means "victory of the people." Saint Nicholas of Myra, the fourth-century bishop known for his generosity, inspired the figure of Santa Claus. Nick has been used as an independent name for generations, and it appears in literature as Nick Carraway, the narrator of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Pronounced NIHK, it is short, friendly and approachable. Nick suits parents who want a no-fuss, classic name that works at any age.
Popularity over time
Nick 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 129 different years. Its best national rank was #173 in 1918, and the most babies received it in 1960, when 1,098 were named Nick. In 2025, 124 babies were named Nick, and it ranked #1,447 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #194 in 1920, #329 in 1950, #472 in 1980, #768 in 2000, #1,096 in 2010, and #1,447 in 2025. Of the 50,457 US boys named Nick since records began, 16% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1920s come next, with 6,832 babies. Since 2010, 2,345 more have been named Nick.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Nelson, Bart, Pat, Matt, and Neal.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Nick ranked highest in Maryland, Washington, and New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | #886 | 5 |
| Washington | #961 | 6 |
| New York | #977 | 13 |
| Arizona | #1003 | 5 |
| California | #1029 | 21 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Nick is usually pronounced NIHK, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with N and ends in “-ck”.
Middle names for Nick
A few middle names that flow with Nick: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Nick
Similar names
Steve Boy
STEEV
“short form of Stephen, 'crown'” · English
#1,617
Zack Boy
ZAK
“short for Zachary; God has remembered” · Hebrew
#1,435
Greg Boy
GREG
“short for Gregory; watchful” · English
#4,761
Jack Boy
JAK
“Yahweh is gracious” · English
#15
Drew Unisex
DROO
“short for Andrew, manly” · English
#553
Troy Boy
TROY
“from the ancient city of Troy” · Greek
#533
Brock Boy
BRAHK
“badger” · English
#810
Chris Boy
KRIHS
“short form of Christopher or Christian” · English
#646
Roderick Boy
RAHD-rihk
“famous ruler” · Germanic
#1,752
Fredrick Boy
FREHD-rihk
“peaceful ruler” · Germanic
#1,736
Kit Unisex
KIHT
“short for Christopher or Katherine” · English
#1,103
Lex Boy
LEHKS
“short form of Alexander, defender” · Greek
#2,322
Lists that include Nick
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nick mean?
Nick is an English and Greek name that means “short for Nicholas; victory of the people”.
What is the origin of the name Nick?
Nick has English and Greek roots. Nick is a short form of Nicholas, which comes from the Greek elements nike, "victory," and laos, "people," so it means "victory of the people." Saint Nicholas of Myra, the fourth-century bishop known for his generosity, inspired the figure of Santa Claus.
Is Nick a popular name?
Not especially. Nick ranked #1,447 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Nick a boy or girl name?
Nick is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Nick?
Nick is usually pronounced NIHK. 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