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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Nicholas — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Nicholai|Nicholaus
GreekBoy→ Stable

Nicholas

NIK-uh-lus · 3 syllables

Share Nicholas:
Compare with another name
Boy
#118
→ Stable

Also ranked: Girl — · → Stable

#118
in the US · 2024
Popularity score: 52
Peak rank
#87 in 2020
5yr change
-9 ranks
Birth frequency
8.4 per 10,000 births
Sex split
82% boy · 18% girl

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #118 · Falling since 2020

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
Greek boy names
Nicholas

Popularity score: 52  ·  SSA Rank: #118

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
63
Higher than 63% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
→ Stable
-9 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Unknown
— · — · —
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
55
0 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

Nicholas scores well on meaning depth but there are tradeoffs — the popularity trend is fading.

Meaning Depth37% of score
87
Name Trend28% of score
44
Uniqueness20% of score
55
Feasibility15% of score
50

Scores are percentile-ranked across 43,000+ names.

Name DNA
GreekClassicReligiousChristian3-syllableSaint nameVirtue nameUnisex
Character
generous spiritprincipled leadership
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Nicholass

resilientauthenticversatilevisionarycurious
STRONG
High confidence

Nicholas is a Greek boy name with steady SSA rankings. It ranked #118 in the US in 2024.

Trend:→ Stable · -9 ranks
Feasibility:— · — · —
Popularity:#118 · niche
Nicholas at a Glance
Meaning:Victor of the people; from Greek 'nikē' (victory) and 'laos' (people). Associated with Saint Nicholas, the generous gift-giver venerated across Christian traditions.
Language root:Greek · Nikolaos
Peak rank:#87 in 2020
5yr change:-9 ranks
Sex usage:82% boy · 18% girl
Notable bearers
Nicholas Cage
Actor
Nicholas Sparks
Author
Nicholas Copernicus
Astronomer
Similar Sound
Nicola◈NicolasNolan◈NathanNathaniel
Similar Style
BenjaminSamuelTimothyChristopherMatthew
Works well with
ElizabethMargaretThomasCatherineJamesAnnePeter
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Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Nicholas illustration
Name Intelligence
Nicholas · Overview
Summary

Nicholas is a Greek boy name with steady SSA rankings. It ranked #118 in the US in 2024.

Search interest: 19/100 → Stable

Strengths
Strong fundamentals
Nicholas scores 63/100 on the Namesake scale — meaning, origin, and trend all contribute positively.
Classic · Religious character
Nicholas carries a warm, grounded quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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