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

Popularity of Nikki by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Nikki is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 98% of people named Nikki being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 53 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Nikki.

The history of the first name Nikki

The name Nikki is a diminutive form of the Greek name Nikolaos, which is derived from the words "nikan" meaning "to conquer" and "laos" meaning "people." The name Nikolaos was initially used in ancient Greece and later adopted by the Romans. It gained popularity during the Early Christian era, as it was borne by several saints and church figures.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nikki can be found in the Byzantine Empire, where it was a shortened version of the name Nikolaos used as a nickname or pet name. The name spread across Europe during the Middle Ages, particularly in regions with strong Greek and Eastern Orthodox Christian influence.

In the 12th century, the Italian philosopher and theologian Nikolas of Cusa, also known as Nicholas of Cusa (1401-1464), was a prominent figure who bore the name Nikolas. During the Renaissance period, the painter Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) was also known by the diminutive form Nikki.

In the 18th century, the Russian Empress Catherine the Great (1729-1796) had a close friend and confidante named Nikki, whose real name was Nikifor Ivanovich Panin. This helped popularize the name in Russia and other Slavic regions.

The name Nikki gained further recognition in the 19th century with the Russian writer Nikolai Gogol (1809-1852), who is often referred to by the diminutive form Nikki in Russian literature. Another notable figure from this period is the American inventor Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), whose name is a variation of the Serbian form Nikola.

In the 20th century, the name Nikki became increasingly popular in English-speaking countries, particularly as a feminine name. One of the most famous bearers of the name is the American singer and actress Nikki Sixx (born 1958), co-founder of the rock band Mötley Crüe.

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

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

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