Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1998

Nicolaus

Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Nicolaus
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1998
47 babies
All-time total
1,141
#4,722 all-time among boys
First recorded
1971
in Social Security records

Nicolaus popularity over time

1,141 babies have been named Nicolaus since 1971, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.020.020.0318801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1998Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s – – – –
1940s – – – –
1950s – – – –
1960s – – – –
1970s 101 10 – #1,895
1980s 270 27 +167% #1,851
1990s 374 37 +39% #1,879
2000s 266 27 -29% #2,552
2010s 115 12 -57% #4,977
2020s (to 2025) 15 3 -78% #8,721

The story of Nicolaus

Nicolaus is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1971, 1,141 American babies have been named Nicolaus. Its peak came in 1998, when 47 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1990s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Nicolaus stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Nicolaus?

The median living Nicolaus is about 30 years old; half are between 22 and 38. An estimated 1,100 people named Nicolaus are alive in the United States today.

median 30 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Nicolaus year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 9 #8,721
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 6 #11,581
2019 10 #8,042
2018 6 #11,746
2017 15 #5,988
2016 – –
2015 12 #6,968
2014 9 #8,598
2013 16 #5,568
2012 11 #7,396
2011 17 #5,365
2010 19 #4,977
2009 22 #4,547
2008 21 #4,660
2007 28 #3,765
2006 21 #4,464
2005 23 #4,022
2004 21 #4,218
2003 28 #3,341
2002 31 #2,995
2001 38 #2,552
2000 33 #2,787
1995 46 #1,879
1990 38 #2,004
1985 31 #1,906
1980 30 #1,896
1975 5 #6,047
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Nicolaus

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Nicolaus Copernicus Nicolaus Copernicus Mathematician and astronomer (1473–1543) Medieval
  2. 2 Nicolaus Zinzendorf Nicolaus Zinzendorf German protestant religious and social reformer, bishop of the Moravian Church 1700–1760 · 17th century
  3. 3 Nicolaus von Below Nicolaus von Below German Luftwaffe officer (1907–1983) Contemporary
  4. 4 Nicolaus of Damascus 1st-century BC historian and philosopher, the chief minister of Herod the Great -64–4 · Antiquity
  5. 5 Nicolaus I Bernoulli Nicolaus I Bernoulli Swiss mathematician (1687–1759) 17th century
  6. 6 Nicolaus Bruhns Nicolaus Bruhns Danish-German organist, violinist, and composer 1665–1697 · 17th century
  7. 7 Nicolaus II Bernoulli Nicolaus II Bernoulli Swiss mathematician (1695–1726) 17th century
  8. 8 Nicolaus Olahus Nicolaus Olahus Roman Catholic archbishop (1493–1568) Medieval
  9. 9 Nicolaus von Amsdorf Nicolaus von Amsdorf German Protestant reformer (1483–1565) Medieval
  10. 10 Nicolaus Michael Oppel Nicolaus Michael Oppel German naturalist 1782–1820 · 18th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Nicolaus, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Nicolaus?

The median living Nicolaus is about 30 years old. Half of all living Nicolauss are between 22 and 38 years old.

How many people named Nicolaus are alive today?

An estimated 1,100 people named Nicolaus are alive in the United States, based on 1,141 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Nicolaus in 2025?

Nicolaus did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Nicolaus?

1,141 babies have been named Nicolaus in the United States since 1971, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Nicolaus most popular?

Nicolaus peaked in 1998, when 47 newborns received the name.

Is Nicolaus a boy or girl name?

Nicolaus is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Nicolaus rising or falling?

Nicolaus is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Nicolaus?

Well-known people named Nicolaus include Nicolaus Copernicus (astronomer), Nicolaus Zinzendorf (religious figure), Nicolaus von Below (military personnel).

Names like Nicolaus

Names that sound and feel close to Nicolaus: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Nicolaus with similar names → More names starting with N →