How to say it
NI · co
ˈniː.koʊ
Masculine
Nico
Victory
What it means
Short for Nicholas/Nicolas/Nikolaos (Greek 'victory of the people'). Nico (born Christa Päffgen, 1938-1988), the Velvet Underground singer, used the name as a stage name and gave it counterculture currency.
Nico started as a short form for any name beginning with Nik- (Nicholas, Nicolas, Niccolò, Nicodemus), all from the Greek nikē ('victory'). It graduated to a standalone given name in the 20th century. Nico (born Christa Päffgen, 1938-1988), the Velvet Underground singer associated with The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967), used Nico as a single-name stage name and gave the name counterculture cool. The English-speaking US picked up Nico in the 2000s, particularly in Italian-American and Latino families. It entered the US top 300 in 2019. Single short forms aren't common, Nico is already a short.
How to spell Nico
The standard spelling is Nico. Common variants include Niko, Nicholas, but Nico is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #174 in 2025, currently #174 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed August 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Nico the Velvet Underground singer is the counterculture anchor; the name now stands on its own in modern usage.
Who's worn it
- Nico (singer) German-born singer Christa Päffgen, the Velvet Underground & Nico, 1938-1988
Spelling variants
- Niko
- Nicholas
Names with the same feeling
See Nico from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Nico mean?
- Short for Nicholas/Nicolas/Nikolaos (Greek 'victory of the people'). Nico (born Christa Päffgen, 1938-1988), the Velvet Underground singer, used the name as a stage name and gave it counterculture currency.
- What does Nico mean in Greek?
- In Greek, Nico means "Victory." Nico started as a short form for any name beginning with Nik- (Nicholas, Nicolas, Niccolò, Nicodemus), all from the Greek nikē ('victory'). It graduated to a standalone given name in the 20th century. Nico (born Christa Päffgen, 1938-1988), the Velvet Underground singer associated with The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967), used Nico as a single-name stage name and gave the name counterculture cool. The English-speaking US picked up Nico in the 2000s, particularly in Italian-American and Latino families. It entered the US top 300 in 2019. Single short forms aren't common, Nico is already a short.
- How do you pronounce Nico?
- Nico is pronounced ˈniː.koʊ. Say it as NI-co, with the stress on the "ni" syllable.
- How do you spell Nico?
- The standard spelling is Nico. Common spelling variants include Niko, Nicholas.
- Is Nico a boy or girl name?
- Nico is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Nico?
- Nico ranked #174 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.