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

Popularity of Nikolaos by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Nikolaos is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 50 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Nikolaos.

The history of the first name Nikolaos

Nikolaos is a masculine given name of Greek origin, derived from the words "nikos" meaning "victory" and "laos" meaning "people." The name can be translated as "victor of the people" or "victorious among the people."

The name has its roots in ancient Greek culture and can be traced back to the 5th century BC. It was a popular name among the ancient Greeks and was often associated with military prowess and leadership qualities.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name can be found in the writings of the Greek historian Thucydides, who mentions a Nikolaos of Syracuse in his work "The Peloponnesian War." The name also appears in various ancient Greek inscriptions and texts.

In the Christian tradition, the name gained significance due to its association with Saint Nicholas, the 4th-century bishop of Myra (in present-day Turkey) and the inspiration for the modern-day Santa Claus. Saint Nicholas was known for his generosity and kindness, particularly towards children.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Nikolaos, including:

1. Nikolaos of Damascus (c. 64 BC - c. 4 BC), a Greek philosopher, historian, and tutor to the Roman emperor Augustus.
2. Nikolaos Mouzalon (c. 1265 - c. 1315), a Byzantine scholar and philosopher who served as the chief minister to the Emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos.
3. Nikolaos Kabasilas (c. 1322 - c. 1392), a Byzantine theologian and mystic who wrote extensively on the liturgy and sacraments of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
4. Nikolaos Mavrokordatos (1670 - 1730), a Greek scholar, diplomat, and Prince of Wallachia (a historical region in present-day Romania).
5. Nikolaos Kalogeropoulos (1851 - 1927), a Greek military officer and politician who served as Prime Minister of Greece from 1916 to 1917.

The name Nikolaos continues to be popular in various forms across different cultures and languages, such as Nicholas in English, Nicolás in Spanish, and Nicola in Italian, reflecting the widespread influence of Greek culture and the enduring appeal of this historic name.

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Nikolaos, 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!