Boy’s name · Greek, French

Nicolas

How to say it: NIK-uh-lus · /ˈnɪkələs/

French/Spanish variant of Nicholas, from Greek 'Nikolaos' meaning 'victory of the people'.

Nicolas was the 59th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 2,053 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2000s, its births are down about 37% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #83 by 2030.

Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures

#59for boys in 2025
1 in 567US babies
2,053born in 2025
#83projected for 2030
2000sits peak decade
1 in 24chance a classmate shares it

Key facts

Key facts about Nicolas
Rank among boys’ names, 2025#59
Babies born in 20252,053
Share of births1 in 567
Peak decade2000s
Change over 10 years−37%
Projected rank for 2030 (estimate)#83
In France, 2025#265 among boys’ names, 200 births

Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.

Its life, decade by decade

Long familiar, Nicolas found its high in the 2000s. It still stands close to that level, even as a gentle slide is expected ahead.

1900195020002020–25
Peak: 1,417 per million births, 2000s.

What goes with it

With three lilting syllables, Nicolas sounds gentle and breathy yet strong. Lucas feels close in spirit, and Nico offers a lighter call.

In the classroom

In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Nicolas is about 1 in 24.

Around the world

This spelling is used in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.

In France: #265 for boys in 2025.

England and Wales: #365. Ireland: #218.

Famous people named Nicolas

From Wikidata and Wikipedia

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