Nicholi

Meaning & origin

Nicholi is a modern respelling of the classic name Nicholas, first recorded in the United States in 1982. It reached its peak popularity in 2013, but has been falling ever since, dropping to a rank of 10695 in 2025 with roughly 1 in 284679 newborns receiving the name. The spelling with an 'i' instead of 'a' reflects a broader trend of unique phonetic variants that emerged in the late 20th century, though it has never achieved widespread use. Unlike its parent name Nicholas, which has deep Greek roots and centuries of history, Nicholi is a distinctly modern creation, likely inspired by phonetic appeal and the popularity of names like Nicholas and Colin.

Nicholi is a modern respelling of Nicholas, which derives from the Greek name Nikolaos (νίκη + λαός, 'victory of the people'). The variant spelling with 'i' instead of 'a' became popular in the late 20th century, particularly in the United States, as part of a trend toward unconventional spellings of traditional names.