Holding steady.
Popularity of Nicolet since 1953
Babies named Nicolet per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1991, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Nicolet's real moment was 1982.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 13 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 39 |
| 1990s | 46 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 6 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Nicolet first appeared in U.S. records in 1953, a late entry compared to many French-born names. It reached its peak rank in 1982, though it never entered the top 1000. The name has maintained a stable trajectory since the 1980s, with very infrequent but consistent usage. As a diminutive of Nicole, it shares the same Greek-derived roots meaning "victory of the people," but remains a distinctive choice. Unlike its more popular counterparts, Nicolet has not seen any revival and remains a rare alternative for parents seeking a French-inflected name without commonality.
Nicolet is a feminine diminutive of Nicol, itself a short form of Nicholas, derived from the Greek name Nikolaos (νῑ́κη nī́kē 'victory' + λᾱός lāós 'people'). It emerged in France as a pet form of Nicole and spread to English-speaking countries alongside other French diminutives. The name has been in use since the medieval period, though it remains far less common than Nicole.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nico, Nikki, Letty
Sibling names for Nicolet
Names that share Nicolet's style, for a brother or sister.
