Nikka
A modern feminine name of Japanese origin referring to the flowering tree.
Name Census estimates that about 391 living Americans carry the first name Nikka. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nikka today is around 33 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nikka births was 1974 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nikka. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
391
~ 1 in 876,610 Americans
Peak year
1974
16 babies that year
Average age
33
years old
2019 SSA rank
#13,404
Tracked since 1970
Popularity
Nikka: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nikka from the 1970s through to the 2010s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 97 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1970s peak, Nikka remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nikka by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Nikka during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Nikkas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Nikka
The name Nikka is believed to have originated from the Greek language, derived from the word "nikē," which means "victory" or "conquest." It is thought to have emerged during the classical period of ancient Greece, around the 5th century BCE.
The earliest recorded use of the name Nikka can be traced back to ancient Greek texts and inscriptions. One notable historical reference is found in the writings of the Greek historian Xenophon, who mentioned a woman named Nikka in his work "Hellenica," written in the 4th century BCE.
In the Byzantine period, which spanned from the 4th to the 15th centuries CE, the name Nikka was sometimes used as a diminutive or nickname for the more common name Nikolaos or Nikoletta, which also derived from the Greek word "nikē."
One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name Nikka was Nikka of Patras, a Christian martyr who lived in the 3rd century CE. According to legend, she was executed for her faith during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian.
Another notable figure was Nikka of Alexandria, a Byzantine scholar and philosopher who lived in the 6th century CE. She was known for her contributions to the field of mathematics and her work on the concept of infinity.
In the Middle Ages, the name Nikka appeared in various European countries, particularly in regions influenced by Greek culture and the Eastern Orthodox Church. One example is Nikka of Kyiv, a princess of the Kievan Rus' who lived in the 11th century CE.
During the Renaissance period, the name Nikka gained popularity in Italy, where it was often used as a feminine form of the name Niccolò or Nicola. One notable bearer of the name was Nikka Pisano, an Italian sculptor and architect who lived in the 13th century CE and is renowned for her contributions to the Gothic style of architecture.
In the 19th century, the name Nikka was associated with Nikka Bilibin, a Russian artist and illustrator known for her intricate illustrations of Russian folktales and fairy tales. She lived from 1876 to 1942 and played a significant role in reviving interest in traditional Russian art and culture.
Throughout history, the name Nikka has been borne by individuals from various backgrounds and professions, including artists, scholars, royalty, and religious figures. While its usage may have evolved over time, the name's Greek origins and association with victory and conquest have remained a central part of its meaning and cultural significance.
People
Nikka + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nikka as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Nikka: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nikka?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 391 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nikka going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 876,610 US residents.
Is Nikka a common name?
We classify Nikka as "Very Rare". It ranks above 82.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 410 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nikka most popular?
The single biggest year for Nikka was 1974, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nikka is about 33 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Nikka a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nikka in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.