Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Nicole
GirlFrench, Greek· “victory of the people”
- Meaning
- victory of the people
- Origin
- French, Greek
- Pronunciation
- nih-KOHL
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #383
- US babies 2025
- 803
- Best rank
- #6 (1982)
- Peak year
- 1985
Meaning and origin of Nicole
Nicole is a French and Greek name that means “victory of the people”.
Nicole is the French feminine form of Nicolas, which goes back to the Greek Nikolaos, from nike, "victory," and laos, "people." It was used in France during the Middle Ages and became very popular in the English-speaking world in the late twentieth century, when it was one of the defining girls' names of its generation. The actress Nicole Kidman is a well-known modern bearer. Nicole has a smooth, sophisticated sound and is easy to spell and say across many languages. Nikki and Nic are the usual nicknames, and the Italian Nicoletta and Spanish Nicolasa are related forms.
Other spellings with the same sound: Nichole, Nicolle.
Popularity over time
Nicole first appears in US Social Security records in 1937. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 80 different years, starting in 1942. Its best national rank was #6 in 1982, and the most babies received it in 1985, when 22,966 were named Nicole. In 2025, 803 babies were named Nicole, and it ranked #383 nationally. That is 62% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #955 in 1950, #7 in 1980, #31 in 2000, #123 in 2010, and #383 in 2025. Of the 594,500 US girls named Nicole since records began, 35% were born in the 1980s, its biggest decade. The 1970s come next, with 144,667 babies. Since 2010, 28,129 more have been named Nicole.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Amber, Christina, Rachel, Erica, and Whitney.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Nicole ranked highest in Florida, Illinois, and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | #194 | 95 |
| Illinois | #213 | 47 |
| California | #253 | 132 |
| Arizona | #280 | 26 |
| Washington | #297 | 25 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Nicole is usually pronounced nih-KOHL, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with N and ends in “-le”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Nichole and Nicolle.
Middle names for Nicole
A few middle names that flow with Nicole: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Nicole
Similar names
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Lists that include Nicole
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nicole mean?
Nicole is a French and Greek name that means “victory of the people”.
What is the origin of the name Nicole?
Nicole has French and Greek roots. Nicole is the French feminine form of Nicolas, which goes back to the Greek Nikolaos, from nike, "victory," and laos, "people." It was used in France during the Middle Ages and became very popular in the English-speaking world in the late twentieth century, when it was one of the defining girls' names of its generation.
Is Nicole a popular name?
Yes. Nicole ranked #383 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Nicole a boy or girl name?
Nicole is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Nicole?
Nicole is usually pronounced nih-KOHL. 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