Boy name · Greek
Nicolas
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: victory of the peopleNicolas is a boy's name that comes from Greek and means "victory of the people". It is used in French and Spanish.
- Meaning
- Victory of the people
- Origin
- Greek
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- nee-koh-LAH (French)
Meaning and origin of Nicolas
As a boy's name, Nicolas comes from Greek and means "victory of the people". It is used in French and Spanish. In Spanish it is spelled Nicolás.
In French, say nee-koh-LAH. In Spanish, say nee-koh-LAHS. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Nicolas is also a surname: the 3,707th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 9,318 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Nicolas on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Nicolas on 2 lists.
“Victory of the people; Greek. Say nee-koh-LAH”
From French boy names, classic male French names
“Victory of the people; Greek. Independence hero Bravo. Say nee-koh-LAHS”
From Mexican boy names, names of Mexican heroes and icons
How popular is Nicolas?
- US rank in 2025
- #177
- 2,053 babies, 1,202 per million boys
- Best rank
- #132 in 1998
- Most babies: 3,003 in 2003
- Babies since 1882
- At least 101,585
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 24 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 17 per million |
| 1900s | 38 per million |
| 1910s | 55 per million |
| 1920s | 68 per million |
| 1930s | 54 per million |
| 1940s | 47 per million |
| 1950s | 51 per million |
| 1960s | 72 per million |
| 1970s | 234 per million |
| 1980s | 556 per million |
| 1990s | 1,089 per million |
| 2000s | 1,416 per million |
| 2010s | 1,128 per million |
| 2020s | 1,143 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #194 | #206 | #195 | #181 | #202 | #189 | #191 | #192 | #184 | #177 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Nicolas
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- KlaasVictory of the people (Greek, boy)
- KlausVictory of the people (Greek, boy)
- MikołajVictory of the people (Greek, boy)
- NeacelVictory of the people (Greek, boy)
- NiccolòVictory of the people (Greek, boy)
- NicholasVictory of the people (Greek, boy)
- NicoVictory of the people (Greek, boy)
- NicodemusVictory of the people (Greek, boy)
- NicolòItalian form of Nicholas, victory of the people (Greek, boy)
- NielsVictory of the people (Greek, boy)
- NiklasVictory of the people (Greek, boy)
- NikodemVictory of the people (Greek, boy)
Names spelled like Nicolas
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- NikolaiVictory of the people (Greek, boy)
- NikolaosVictory of the people (Greek, boy)
- NioclásVictory of the people (Greek, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- NicoleVictory of the people (Greek, girl)
- ViktoriaVictory, triumph (Latin, girl)
- BereniceBringing victory (Greek, girl)
- VeronikaBringing victory (Latin, girl)
- ColetteVictory of the people (Greek, girl)
- NicoletteVictory of the people (Greek, girl)
- SigmundVictory protection (Old Norse, boy)
- SigridBeautiful victory (Old Norse, girl)
- VictoriaVictory, triumph (Latin, girl)
- AmarjeetImmortal victory (Sanskrit, unisex)
- Ana VictoriaGrace and victory (Hebrew and Latin, girl)
- Ana VitóriaGrace, victory (Hebrew and Latin, girl)
- BahramVictory, from a god of victory (Persian, boy)
- BerenikeBringing victory (Greek, girl)
- BerniceBringing victory (Greek, girl)
Middle names for Nicolas
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Greek
- AlexanderDefender of men (Greek, boy)
- LucasMan from Lucania (Greek, boy)
- ChristianFollower of Christ (Greek, boy)
- LeonA lion (Greek, boy)
- HectorHolding fast (Greek, boy)
- TheoGift of God (Greek, boy)
- AlexisHelper, defender (Greek, boy)
- LucaMan from Lucania (Greek, boy)
- PeterRock, stone (Greek, boy)
- SebastianMan of sebaste, venerable (Greek, boy)
- AlexDefender, protector (Greek, unisex)
- AndreasManly, brave (Greek, boy)
- CyrilLordly (Greek, boy)
- FilipLover of horses (Greek, boy)
- LinusFlax plant (Greek, boy)
- NarcisoNarcissus flower (Greek, boy)
- StefanCrown, garland (Greek, boy)
- TimHonoring God (Greek, boy)
Nicolas: common questions
What does the name Nicolas mean?
Nicolas comes from Greek and means "victory of the people".
Is Nicolas a boy or girl name?
Nicolas is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Nicolas come from?
Nicolas comes from Greek and means "victory of the people". Today it is used in French and Spanish.
How do you pronounce Nicolas?
In French, say nee-koh-LAH. In Spanish, say nee-koh-LAHS. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Nicolas?
Nicolas ranked #177 in the US in 2025, with 2,053 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Nicolas?
Forms of Nicolas with the same meaning and origin include Klaas (Dutch), Klaus (German), Mikołaj (Polish), Neacel (Scottish) and Niccolò (Italian).
What middle names go with Nicolas?
Middle names that flow well with Nicolas include Alton, Glenn, Heath, Isaac and Lance. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.