How to say it
ni · COLE
/nɪˈkoʊl/
Feminine
Nicole
Victory of the people
What it means
The French feminine of Nicholas, from the Greek nikē ('victory') plus laos ('people').
Nicole is the French feminine of Nicholas, joining nikē, 'victory,' to laos, 'people.' It became a defining girls' name in the US from the 1970s through the 1990s, carried by stars like Nicole Kidman. It belongs to the broad Nicholas family with Colette and Nicolette. Nikki, Coco, and Cole all serve as shorts.
Popularity over time
peaked at #6 in 1982, currently #383 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
Nikki, Coco, and Cole all work as shorts.
- Spelling
The French feminine of Nicholas; cousin of Colette and Nicolette.
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.
- Nicole Kidman Australian-American Academy Award-winning actress
Spelling variants
- Nichole
- Nicola
- Nicolette
Names with the same feeling
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