Holding steady, #5,608 for boys today.
Popularity of Mikolaj since 1994
Babies named Mikolaj per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2007, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Mikolaj's real moment was 2025.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 19 |
| 2000s | 99 |
| 2010s | 80 |
| 2020s | 55 |
Meaning & origin
Mikolaj is a Polish form of the classic Nicholas, a name with deep Christian roots. While the name has been in use in Poland for centuries, its recorded history in the United States begins in 1994, and it has remained rare. In 2025, Mikolaj was given to about 1 in every 106,755 boys, ranking 5,608th. The name saw its peak popularity in 2025, the same year it was first recorded, indicating a stable but very low usage. Its trajectory is stable, with no significant upward or downward trends. As a Polish variant, it is most commonly found among families with Polish heritage, though no top states were recorded in the data. The name offers a distinctive alternative to the more common Nicholas, carrying the same victorious meaning with a distinctly Eastern European flair.
Mikolaj is the Polish form of Nicholas, derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning 'victory of the people.' The name Nicholas was borne by the 4th-century Saint Nicholas, a bishop of Myra known for his generosity, who evolved into the figure of Santa Claus. In Poland, Mikolaj has been a traditional given name for centuries, often associated with the same saint. The popularity of Mikolaj in the United States remains rare, but it is recognized as a distinct Polish variant of the widespread Nicholas.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Miko, Kola
Sibling names for Mikolaj
Names that share Mikolaj's style, for a brother or sister.
