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 July 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
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give 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.