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

Popularity of Nicola by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Nicola is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 65% of people named Nicola being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 29 male babies and 19 female babies born with the name Nicola.

It's also interesting to see that despite Nicola being historically a mostly female name, the most recent data from 2023 shows a shift in the trend, with more male babies being named Nicola.

The history of the first name Nicola

Nicola is a given name of Greek origin, derived from the Greek word "Nikolaos," which means "victor of the people." It has been a popular name across Europe and the Mediterranean region for centuries.

The name first appeared in ancient Greek texts and was associated with several saints and historical figures. One of the most notable was Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop from modern-day Turkey, who became the inspiration for the legendary figure of Santa Claus.

In the Middle Ages, the name gained popularity in Italy, where it was commonly spelled "Niccolò" or "Nicola." One of the earliest recorded examples of the name was Niccolò Pisano (c. 1220-1284), an Italian sculptor and architect who is considered a pioneer of the Renaissance style.

During the Renaissance, the name was associated with several prominent figures, including Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527), the renowned Italian philosopher and political theorist, and Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840), the virtuoso violinist and composer.

In the 19th century, the name became popular in other parts of Europe, including Russia, where it was often spelled "Nikolai." One of the most famous Russian bearers of the name was Nikolai Gogol (1809-1852), the celebrated writer and playwright.

Other notable figures throughout history who bore the name Nicola include Nicola Porpora (1686-1768), an Italian composer and teacher who taught several famous composers, including Joseph Haydn; Nicola Zingarelli (1752-1837), an Italian composer and music theorist; and Nicola Sacco (1891-1927), an Italian-American anarchist who was controversially executed for murder in 1927.

In the 20th century, the name continued to be popular, particularly in Italy and other parts of Europe. One of the most famous bearers of the name was Nicola Abbagnano (1901-1990), an Italian philosopher and existentialist.

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

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

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