William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
Nico
BoyItalian, Greek· “short form of Nicholas, 'victory of the people'”
- Meaning
- short form of Nicholas, 'victory of the people'
- Origin
- Italian, Greek
- Pronunciation
- NEE-koh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #174
- US babies 2025
- 2,066
- Best rank
- #174 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Nico
Nico is an Italian and Greek name that means “short form of Nicholas, 'victory of the people'”.
Nico is a short form of Nicholas and its many European relatives, such as Nicola in Italian and Nicolás in Spanish. All of them come from the Greek Nikolaos, built from nike, victory, and laos, people, so the name is usually glossed as victory of the people. Saint Nicholas of Myra, the gift-giving bishop behind the Santa Claus tradition, made the long form popular across Europe. Nico stands well on its own today and feels bright, international and easygoing. It also works as a nickname for Nicolas, Dominic or Nicodemus.
Other spellings with the same sound: Niko, Nikko.
Famous parents who chose Nico: Michael Phelps and Nicole Phelps (2024). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Nico first appears in US Social Security records in 1960. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 38 different years, starting in 1988. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #174, and its highest count, 2,066 babies. Use has grown 217% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #3,774 in 1980, #843 in 2000, #594 in 2010, and #174 in 2025. Of the 21,294 US boys named Nico since records began, 43% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 6,462 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Felix, Barrett, Aziel, Beckham, and Callan.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Nico ranked highest in District of Columbia, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | #52 | 15 |
| New Jersey | #72 | 124 |
| Connecticut | #89 | 40 |
| Rhode Island | #95 | 12 |
| Pennsylvania | #106 | 120 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 96% of US babies named Nico over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Nico is usually pronounced NEE-koh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with N and ends in “-co”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Niko and Nikko.
Middle names for Nico
A few middle names that flow with Nico: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Nico
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Lists that include Nico
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nico mean?
Nico is an Italian and Greek name that means “short form of Nicholas, 'victory of the people'”.
What is the origin of the name Nico?
Nico has Italian and Greek roots. Nico is a short form of Nicholas and its many European relatives, such as Nicola in Italian and Nicolás in Spanish.
Is Nico a popular name?
Yes. Nico ranked #174 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Nico a boy or girl name?
Nico is mainly a boy's name. About 96% of US babies named Nico over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Nico?
Nico is usually pronounced NEE-koh. 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