William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
Nicodemus
BoyGreek· “victory of the people”
- Meaning
- victory of the people
- Origin
- Greek
- Pronunciation
- nik-uh-DEE-mus
- Syllables
- 4
- US rank 2025
- #2,826
- US babies 2025
- 45
- Best rank
- #2,482 (1994)
- Peak year
- 2022
Meaning and origin of Nicodemus
Nicodemus is a Greek name that means “victory of the people”.
Nicodemus is a Greek name meaning victory of the people, from nike, victory, and demos, people. In the Gospel of John, Nicodemus is a Pharisee who visits Jesus at night to ask questions and later helps bury him. It is said nik-uh-DEE-mus. The name is rare today but has a clear biblical history, and it shares its first element with Nicholas and Nicole. The town of Nicodemus, Kansas, founded by formerly enslaved people after the Civil War, took its name from a legendary enslaved man called Nicodemus who bought his freedom, and a national historic site preserves it today.
Popularity over time
Nicodemus first appears in US Social Security records in 1924. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #2,482 in 1994, and the most babies received it in 2022, when 48 were named Nicodemus. In 2025, 45 babies were named Nicodemus, and it ranked #2,826 nationally. That is 50% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #3,377 in 1980, #3,272 in 2000, #3,962 in 2010, and #2,826 in 2025. Of the 1,120 US boys named Nicodemus since records began, 27% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 274 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Lawton, Talha, Connell, Dawud, and Alexei.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Nicodemus ranked highest in Florida.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | #2017 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Nicodemus is usually pronounced nik-uh-DEE-mus, with four syllables. It has nine letters, starts with N and ends in “-us”.
Middle names for Nicodemus
A few middle names that flow with Nicodemus: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Nicodemus
Similar names
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ah-leh-HAHN-droh
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duh-RY-uhs
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Alessandro Boy
ah-leh-SAHN-droh
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Lucius Boy
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Lists that include Nicodemus
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nicodemus mean?
Nicodemus is a Greek name that means “victory of the people”.
What is the origin of the name Nicodemus?
Nicodemus has Greek roots. Nicodemus is a Greek name meaning victory of the people, from nike, victory, and demos, people.
Is Nicodemus a popular name?
Not especially. Nicodemus ranked #2,826 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Nicodemus a boy or girl name?
Nicodemus is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Nicodemus?
Nicodemus is usually pronounced nik-uh-DEE-mus. 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