Rising since 1993, #2,572 for boys today.
Popularity of Nikolaos since 1962
Babies named Nikolaos per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2014, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Nikolaos's real moment was 2021.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 48 |
| 1970s | 295 |
| 1980s | 293 |
| 1990s | 284 |
| 2000s | 404 |
| 2010s | 448 |
| 2020s | 300 |
Meaning & origin
Nikolaos is a Greek name with deep historical roots, meaning 'victory of the people.' In the United States, it has seen a resurgence since 1993, with its peak popularity in 2021 at rank 2572. Though not among the most common names, it holds particular favor in states like Illinois, Ohio, and New York. The name's enduring appeal is tied to its association with Saint Nicholas and its strong presence in Greek and Orthodox Christian communities. Its trajectory shows a steady increase in usage over the past three decades, reflecting a broader interest in traditional, culturally rich names.
Derived from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). The name was borne by several early Christian saints, most notably Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop of Myra whose legends evolved into the figure of Santa Claus. It has been a common given name in Greece and throughout the Eastern Orthodox world for centuries.
Where Nikolaos is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nikos, Niko, Nick
Variants: Nicholas, Nicolas, Nikolaos (Modern Greek spelling unchanged)
Sibling names for Nikolaos
Names that share Nikolaos's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Alexandra, Sophia, Katerina, Eleni, Maria, Dimitra, Fotini, Ioanna, Vasiliki, Angeliki, Panayiota, Paraskevi
Brothers: Dimitrios, Georgios, Andreas, Ioannis, Christos, Panagiotis, Anastasios, Petros, Theodoros, Alexios, Apostolos, Haralambos, Kostantinos, Sotirios, Eleftherios, Kyriakos, Marios, Panayiotis, Pavlos, Stephanos
