Find out how popular the first name Nicholas has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Nicholas by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Nicholas is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Nicholas being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 3,242 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Nicholas.

The history of the first name Nicholas

The given name Nicholas has its origins in the Greek language and culture. It is derived from the Greek words "nikos" meaning "victory" and "laos" meaning "people". The name essentially translates to "victor of the people" or "people's champion".

The name can be traced back to ancient Greek history and was first recorded in the 4th century BC. It is believed to have been given to children in hopes that they would grow up to be brave warriors and leaders who could defend their communities.

One of the earliest known references to the name Nicholas is found in the writings of the Greek historian Plutarch, who mentioned a military commander named Nicholas who fought alongside Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC.

In the early Christian era, the name became particularly popular due to the veneration of Saint Nicholas, the 4th century bishop of Myra (modern-day Turkey) who was known for his generosity and kindness towards children. His legacy as the patron saint of children and gift-giving contributed to the widespread adoption of the name across Europe.

Some notable historical figures with the name Nicholas include:

1. Nicholas of Damascus (c. 64 BC - c. 10 AD), a Greek historian and philosopher.
2. Nicholas of Cusa (1401 - 1464), a German philosopher, mathematician, and Catholic cardinal.
3. Nicholas Copernicus (1473 - 1543), the renowned Polish astronomer who formulated the heliocentric model of the solar system.
4. Nicholas Roerich (1874 - 1947), a Russian painter, philosopher, and writer.
5. Nicholas Winton (1909 - 2015), a British humanitarian who organized the rescue of 669 children from Czechoslovakia during World War II.

Over the centuries, the name Nicholas has been adapted and transliterated into various languages, leading to variations such as Nikolai, Niklas, Nikos, and Nick. It has remained a popular choice for parents across different cultures and religions, often symbolizing strength, leadership, and a spirit of compassion.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Nicholas was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Nicholas, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!