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Nicholas

Meaning, origin and pronunciation, with published usage by place and year.

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Meaning

Victory and people, the Greek name elements.

The exact entry analyzes the Greek source as νίκη, victory, and λαός, people. This is a lexical formation summary, not a prediction of a bearer’s success. The licensed Variant of Nikolas description is retained separately rather than presented as a meaning.

Origin

Greek name transmitted through Latin, French and Middle English.

The source traces Nicholas through Middle English, Old French and Latin to Ancient Greek Νικόλαος. Saintly associations and modern nationality are distinct from this transmission history.

English pronunciation

/ˈnɪk.ə.ləs/; /ˈnɪk.ləs/

Directly recorded English pronunciation of the exact given-name spelling. The exact entry records full and compressed English readings. The syllable count depends on the selected reading. The plain-text guide is approximate; a bearer’s preferred reading can differ. No audio reused.

Recorded English reading, as published. Accents and preferred pronunciations can differ.

Published name usage

Counts apply only to the exact spelling, place, year and recorded usage shown. Places are separate; these figures are never added into a worldwide total. Missing or suppressed records never mean zero.

Latest published record available for this spelling in each place and recorded usage
PlaceYearRecorded usagePublished birthsRankNotes
Canada2001Girls622532025 figures are preliminary. Quebec counts below five are randomly imputed by the publisher before national aggregation. Accents are removed in the source; this profile was matched only where the catalog spelling was unambiguous. Unpublished values are unknown, not zero. Rank basis: source published.
Canada2025Boys238 · preliminary1332025 figures are preliminary. Quebec counts below five are randomly imputed by the publisher before national aggregation. Accents are removed in the source; this profile was matched only where the catalog spelling was unambiguous. Unpublished values are unknown, not zero. Rank basis: source published.
France2023Boys10 (rounded to 5)2700Counts are rounded to the nearest multiple of five. Ranks use unrounded publisher counts with randomly ordered ties; equally rounded counts can have different ranks. National coverage excludes Mayotte before 2012. Missing years are unavailable, not zero. Automated direction labels are withheld for this rounded-count series. Rank basis: source published.
England & Wales2025Boys234214Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: source published.
Northern Ireland2024Boys5305Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: source published.
Scotland2025Boys22190Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: source published.
Ireland2025Boys24198Names below three occurrences are unpublished. Accent recording changed in 2018; comparisons across that boundary may not describe the same spelling coverage. Counts refer to registrations in the year. Missing years are unavailable, not zero. Rank basis: source published.
United States2025Girls810917Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: calculated from published counts.
United States2025Boys3,115112Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: calculated from published counts.

Canada, Ireland and France coverage includes confidently matched existing profiles only; unmatched spellings are awaiting review. French counts are rounded to five.

Sources & notes

Open an entry for its source, credit, licence and full qualifications. Different name traditions remain separate.

Language of use: English

Checked against cited source

The exact English entry explicitly documents given-name use; this is distinct from linguistic origin, nationality and ancestry. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names.

Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.

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This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

CC BY-SA 4.0

Meaning: Victory and people, the Greek name elements.

Checked against cited source

The exact entry analyzes the Greek source as νίκη, victory, and λαός, people. This is a lexical formation summary, not a prediction of a bearer’s success. The licensed Variant of Nikolas description is retained separately rather than presented as a meaning. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names. No source audio reused.

Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.

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This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

CC BY-SA 4.0

Nickname: Cole

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The exact English entry explicitly lists this pet form. The relationship can depend on family or linguistic tradition; it is not proof that every independent use of this spelling derives from Nicholas. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names. No source audio reused.

Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.

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This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

CC BY-SA 4.0

Nickname: Colin

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English given-name relationship. These spellings remain separate in popularity statistics.

Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.

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This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

CC BY-SA 4.0

Nickname: Kolya

Checked against cited source

The exact English entry explicitly lists this pet form. The relationship can depend on family or linguistic tradition; it is not proof that every independent use of this spelling derives from Nicholas. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names. No source audio reused.

Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.

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This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

CC BY-SA 4.0

Nickname: Nick

Checked against cited source

The exact English entry explicitly lists this pet form. The relationship can depend on family or linguistic tradition; it is not proof that every independent use of this spelling derives from Nicholas. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names. No source audio reused.

Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.

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This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

CC BY-SA 4.0

Nickname: Nicko

Checked against cited source

The exact English entry explicitly lists this pet form. The relationship can depend on family or linguistic tradition; it is not proof that every independent use of this spelling derives from Nicholas. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names. No source audio reused.

Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.

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This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

CC BY-SA 4.0

Nickname: Nicky

Checked against cited source

The exact English entry explicitly lists this pet form. The relationship can depend on family or linguistic tradition; it is not proof that every independent use of this spelling derives from Nicholas. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names. No source audio reused.

Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.

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This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

CC BY-SA 4.0

Nickname: Nico

Checked against cited source

The exact English entry explicitly lists this pet form. The relationship can depend on family or linguistic tradition; it is not proof that every independent use of this spelling derives from Nicholas. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names. No source audio reused.

Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.

View original source

This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

CC BY-SA 4.0

Origin: Greek name transmitted through Latin, French and Middle English.

Checked against cited source

The source traces Nicholas through Middle English, Old French and Latin to Ancient Greek Νικόλαος. Saintly associations and modern nationality are distinct from this transmission history. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names. No source audio reused.

Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.

View original source

This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

CC BY-SA 4.0

English pronunciation: /ˈnɪk.ə.ləs/; /ˈnɪk.ləs/

Checked against cited source

Directly recorded English pronunciation of the exact given-name spelling. The exact entry records full and compressed English readings. The syllable count depends on the selected reading. The plain-text guide is approximate; a bearer’s preferred reading can differ. No audio reused. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names.

Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.

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This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

CC BY-SA 4.0

Related name: Nikolai

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Related English forms with a shared linguistic source; not interchangeable spellings or a nickname claim. Popularity counts remain separate.

Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.

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This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

CC BY-SA 4.0

Supporting evidence: Wiktionary: Nicholas’s Greek elements and shorter forms

Checked against cited source

The exact entry supports the meaning elements, transmission chain, listed variants and pet forms. Existing Colin and Nikolai relationships, and both full and compressed English readings, remain unchanged. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names. No source audio reused.

Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.

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This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

CC BY-SA 4.0

Syllables: 3 or 2 (documented English alternatives)

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Count applies to the cited English reading(s) only, not to every language or personal reading. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names.

Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.

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This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

CC BY-SA 4.0

Spelling variant: Nickolas

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The exact entry lists this alternative form. Its note says Nickolas and Nikolas are usually of non-English origin; spellings retain separate popularity records and pronunciations are not transferred. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names. No source audio reused.

Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.

View original source

This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

CC BY-SA 4.0

Spelling variant: Nicolas

Checked against cited source

The exact entry lists this alternative form. Its note says Nickolas and Nikolas are usually of non-English origin; spellings retain separate popularity records and pronunciations are not transferred. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names. No source audio reused.

Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.

View original source

This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

CC BY-SA 4.0

Spelling variant: Nikolas

Checked against cited source

The exact entry lists this alternative form. Its note says Nickolas and Nikolas are usually of non-English origin; spellings retain separate popularity records and pronunciations are not transferred. Credit: Wiktionary contributors; adapted and condensed by Rare Baby Names. No source audio reused.

Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.

View original source

This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

CC BY-SA 4.0

country_CA

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country_FR

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country_IE

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Source: NISRA : Website: www.nisra.gov.uk

Attribution: Source: NISRA : Website: www.nisra.gov.uk

License: Open Government Licence v3.0

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(C) Crown copyright. Data supplied by National Records of Scotland.

Attribution: (C) Crown copyright. Data supplied by National Records of Scotland.

License: Open Government Licence v3.0

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Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence

Attribution: Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence

License: Open Government Licence v3.0

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U.S. Social Security Administration

Attribution: U.S. Social Security Administration

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Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0147-01, 1991–2025, released 23 September 2026.

Credit: Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0147-01, 1991–2025, released 23 September 2026.

License: Statistics Canada Open Licence

Adaptation: Adapted from Statistics Canada, First names at birth by sex at birth, selected indicators, Table 17-10-0147-01, reference years 1991–2025. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.

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Central Statistics Office, Ireland, VSA50 and VSA60, updated 27 February 2026.

Credit: Central Statistics Office, Ireland, VSA50 and VSA60, updated 27 February 2026.

License: CC BY 4.0

Adaptation: Adapted by Rare Baby Names: joined the published count and rank indicators and matched unambiguous existing spellings. Source values retained.

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Source : Insee, Fichier des prénoms, updated 16 July 2026.

Credit: Source : Insee, Fichier des prénoms, updated 16 July 2026.

License: Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab)

Adaptation: Adapted by Rare Baby Names: column names and sex codes mapped and unique case-only spellings matched to existing profiles. Published rounded counts and ranks retained.

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