How to say it
NICH · o · las
/ˈnɪk.ə.ləs/
Masculine
Nicholas
Victory of the people
What it means
Greek Nikolaos, from nikē ('victory') + laos ('people'). Saint Nicholas of Myra, the 4th-century bishop, evolved into the figure of Santa Claus.
Nicholas comes from the Greek Nikolaos (nikē 'victory' + laos 'people'). Saint Nicholas of Myra (a 4th-century Greek bishop in what's now Turkey) was known for gift-giving in secret; his cult spread north and east, and centuries of folk tradition transformed him into Sinterklaas (Dutch) and then Santa Claus. Nicholas II was the last Russian tsar, murdered with his family in 1918. The English Nicholas was steady for centuries and peaked in the US in the 1990s. Common shorts: Nick, Nico, Cole, and Klaus (the European form).
Popularity over time
peaked at #5 in 1999, currently #112 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Nick is the universal short; Nico, Cole, and the European Klaus all circulate. Most Nicholases pick one early.
- Pop culture
Saint Nicholas / Santa Claus is the dominant cultural reference globally; some parents lean into the gift-giving association, others find the link unavoidable.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Saint Nicholas of Myra 4th-century Greek bishop, namesake of Santa Claus
- Nicholas Cage American actor, Leaving Las Vegas (Oscar) and Con Air
- Nicholas Sparks American novelist, The Notebook and A Walk to Remember
Spelling variants
- Nikolas
- Nicolás
- Nikolaus
Names with the same feeling
See Nicholas from another angle
By meaning
By style