Nick first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Nick

A masculine name with origins in Greek meaning "victorious people".

Popularity of Nick by gender

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

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 141 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Nick.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 141 0
2022 134 0
2021 133 0
2020 120 0
2019 140 0
2018 123 0
2017 147 0
2016 175 0
2015 152 0
2014 157 0
2013 174 0
2012 157 0
2011 154 0
2010 176 0
2009 197 0
2008 236 0
2007 226 0
2006 251 0
2005 233 0
2004 208 0
2003 203 0
2002 200 0
2001 198 0
2000 217 0
1999 204 0
1998 179 0
1997 147 0
1996 173 0
1995 216 0
1994 197 0
1993 217 0
1992 226 0
1991 195 0
1990 232 0
1989 251 0
1988 240 0
1987 274 0
1986 295 0
1985 255 0
1984 278 0
1983 257 0
1982 267 0
1981 293 6
1980 318 0
1979 373 0
1978 400 6
1977 425 0
1976 405 5
1975 447 0
1974 504 6

The history of the first name Nick

The given name Nick is a diminutive form of the name Nicholas, which is derived from the Greek name Nikolaos. Nikolaos is a combination of the words "niko" meaning "victory" and "laos" meaning "people". The name can be interpreted as "victor of the people" or "people's champion".

The earliest known use of the name Nicholas dates back to the 3rd century AD. One of the most famous historical figures with this name is Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century Christian saint and Greek bishop of Myra in modern-day Turkey. He is the primary inspiration for the legendary character of Santa Claus, known for his generosity and gift-giving.

In the Middle Ages, the name Nicholas was widely popular across Europe, particularly in regions influenced by the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. It was often associated with piety, kindness, and charity, reflecting the virtues of Saint Nicholas.

One notable figure from this period was Nicholas of Cusa, a German philosopher, theologian, and mathematician born in 1401. He made significant contributions to the fields of science and philosophy during the Renaissance.

During the Renaissance and Reformation periods, the name Nicholas remained popular among various European cultures. One prominent figure was Nicholas Copernicus, the Polish astronomer born in 1473, who revolutionized our understanding of the solar system with his heliocentric theory.

In the 19th century, the name Nicholas gained further popularity in various cultures. One famous bearer of the name was Nicholas I, who reigned as the Emperor of Russia from 1825 to 1855. Another notable figure was Nicholas II, the last Emperor of Russia, who ruled from 1894 until his abdication in 1917.

The diminutive form "Nick" emerged as a common shortened version of Nicholas, particularly in English-speaking countries. Some famous individuals known by the name Nick include Nick Drake, an English singer-songwriter born in 1948, and Nick Lowe, an English singer-songwriter and producer born in 1949.

Overall, the name Nick, derived from Nicholas, has a rich history spanning centuries and cultures. It has been associated with various historical figures, saints, and notable individuals, reflecting its enduring popularity and diverse cultural influences.

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 Nick was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Nick first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/nick-meaning-and-history/.

"Nick first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/nick-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Nick first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/nick-meaning-and-history/.

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