Nikolaos Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Nikolaos is a Greek name meaning 'victory of the people', originating from the elements 'nike' and 'laos'. It has evolved through historical forms such as Nicolaus and Nicholas. The name is associated with positive traits of generosity and kindness, largely due to historical figures like Saint Nicholas. There is no direct biblical background, but it has a significant cultural impact. Today, it remains a popular name with a positive image.
The name Nikolaos is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Nikolaos has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Nikolaos' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7067th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1930th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2267th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2745th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2685th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Nikolaos' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Nikolaos"
Pronunciation
/nɪˈkoʊlɑːs/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Nikolaos is derived from the Greek name 'Nikólaos', which is composed of the elements 'nike' meaning 'victory' and 'laos' meaning 'people'. Thus, it can be interpreted as 'victory of the people'.
Meaning
Victory of the people
Language Evolution
Nikolaos, Nicolaus, Nicholas
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the early Christian era, particularly due to Saint Nicholas of Myra, a 4th-century Greek bishop known for his generosity and later became the basis for the modern figure of Santa Claus.
Variants & Derivatives
Nicholas, Nicola, Nico, Colin
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Nikolaos is perceived as a traditional yet timeless name, often associated with kindness and generosity due to the influence of Saint Nicholas.
Famous People
Saint Nicholas, Nikola Tesla, Nikola Jokic
Explore More Nikolaos Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Nikolaos"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Nikolaos"
"Nikolaos" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 7067th of 7552 | 7 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1930th of 10718 | 363 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2267th of 16616 | 460 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2745th of 24088 | 623 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2685th of 23106 | 567 |
Regional Popularity of "Nikolaos" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
50.73% 1490th/2937 |
27.16% 946th/3483 |
64.38% 2265th/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
52.13% 1921st/3685 |
26.79% 1199th/4475 |
- |
53.79% 3398th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
52.75% 2417th/4582 |
30.58% 1579th/5164 |
65.06% 4758th/7313 |
39.17% 2923rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
56.95% 2269th/3984 |
33.03% 1482nd/4487 |
48.68% 3321st/6822 |
52.15% 3273rd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Nikolaos" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Nikolaos"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Nikolaos" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.