Rising since 1985, #605 for boys today.
Popularity of Nikolai since 1960
Babies named Nikolai per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 52 |
| 1970s | 202 |
| 1980s | 291 |
| 1990s | 733 |
| 2000s | 1,632 |
| 2010s | 5,060 |
| 2020s | 3,057 |
Meaning & origin
Nikolai, the Russian form of Nicholas, has a distinct Slavic character that sets it apart from its Western counterparts. First recorded in U.S. data in 1960, the name has been on a steady upward trajectory since 1985, reaching its peak rank of 605 in 2025. With a 1-in-3642 birth rate, it remains uncommon but recognizable. Nikolai is most popular in New Mexico, Nebraska, and Connecticut, reflecting its broad geographic appeal. Its strong roots in Eastern Orthodox tradition and a lyrical sound make it a choice that balances cultural heritage with contemporary style.
Nikolai is the Russian form of Nicholas, which derives from the Greek name Nikolaos, from 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). The name spread through Eastern Orthodox veneration of Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop. It has been consistently used in Russia and across Slavic countries, and gained international recognition through figures like Tsar Nicholas II and composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
Where Nikolai is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Nikolai” around the world
Where Nikolai lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Ireland
3
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kolya, Niko, Nik
Sibling names for Nikolai
Names that share Nikolai's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Anastasia, Natalia, Sofia, Olga, Daria, Alena, Anya, Dasha, Ivanna, Karina, Katarina, Katerina, Katia, Milana, Mischa, Natalya, Natasha, Sasha, Sonya, Tamara, Tamarra, Tania, Tanya, Tasha, Tatiana, Tatianna, Tatyana, Yuri, Aleksandra, Anastacia, Asya, Irina, Ivanka, Katya, Larisa, Mariya, Misha, Nadya, Nakita, Natacha, Natashia, Nika, Polina, Sanya, Sascha, Stasia, Tanja, Tasia, Tatiyana, Tatyanna, Valeri, Vania, Vanya, Veronika, Viktoria, Yelena, Yulianna, Alexy, Anastazia, Czarina, Darina, Demitra, Ekaterina, Inessa, Inna, Iya, Jenia, Karyna, Katryna, Ksenia, Larina, Luba, Manya, Nadina, Nadja, Nastasha, Nastasia, Nastassia, Nastassja, Natascha, Natasia, Natassia, Oksana, Sonjia, Stasha, Svetlana, Tanyia, Tatia, Tatjana, Yoanna, Yulia, Zarya, Zlata, Alyona, Anastashia, Atasha, Danila, Elizaveta, Galina, Juliya, Juri, Liliya, Ludmila, Ludmilla, Matasha, Mishel, Mishka, Nasha, Natassja, Natausha, Natika, Ninel, Olia, Sofya, Soniya, Tascha, Thanya, Vasilisa, Viktoriya, Yury, Zasha, Zorina, Anastasya, Anastassia, Emiliya, Gelena, Iliyana, Ivannia, Ivonna, Jenya, Katanya, Kseniya, Lada, Lidiya, Mariyana, Nastacia, Nastashia, Natalyia, Natash, Natsha, Netasha, Ninoshka, Sausha, Shonya, Stana, Taisa, Tatayana, Ulyana, Varvara, Venera, Yaritsa, Ysenia, Zhana, Zhanna, Zorianna
Brothers: Dmitri, Alexei, Ivan, Mikhail, Vladimir, Aleksander, Aleksandr, Anton, Bladimir, Dimitri, Maksim, Stefan, Alek, Andrey, Demitri, Lenin, Viktor, Adrik, Aleks, Aleksei, Aleksey, Alexandr, Alexey, Alik, Andrej, Andrik, Christo, Dimitrius, Dimitry, Dmitriy, Dmitry, Frederik, Georgi, Igor, Illya, Ilya, Kirill, Konstantin, Konstantine, Leonid, Michail, Osmin, Pasha, Sergey, Timofey, Ural, Veron, Vitaliy, Vlad, Vladislav, Yulian, Artem, Artyom, Daniil, Filimon, Iliya, Matvey, Mihail, Oleg, Stanislav, Stepan, Vitaly, Yuriy, Danil, Dimetri, Fedor, Fyodor, Gleb, Kiril, Savva, Sergei, Vasili, Vasily, Vitali, Yaroslav
Names like Nikolai
Names whose popularity has moved with Nikolai's over the last 50 years.
