Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 2014

Nikolaos

Meaning I conquer Gender Boy Rank 2025 #2,591 Trend ↑ Rising 15%

Borrowed from Greek Νικόλαος (Nikólaos), from Ancient Greek Νικόλαος (Nikólaos), from νικάω (nikáō, “I conquer”) + λαός (laós, “people”).

Rank 2025
#2,591
among boys · ↑192 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
51
named Nikolaos · +9% vs 2024
How common
1 in 33,492
boys born in 2025
Peak year
2014
58 babies
All-time total
2,072
#3,240 all-time among boys
First recorded
1962
in Social Security records

Nikolaos popularity over time

2,072 babies have been named Nikolaos since 1962, 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
0.010.020.030.0418801900192019401960198020002020Peak 2021Boys

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 48 5 – #2,383
1970s 295 30 +515% #1,347
1980s 293 29 -1% #1,646
1990s 284 28 -3% #2,171
2000s 404 40 +42% #2,333
2010s 448 45 +11% #2,289
2020s (to 2025) 300 50 +12% #2,426

Where Nikolaos is heading

A five-year projection from the recent trend in births per 1,000 boys (damped so it flattens over time), converted to babies at today's birth totals. The implied rank places that projection in the 2025 field. A projection, not a promise: real trends bend.

Year Projected babies Per 1,000 boys Implied rank
2026 52 0.03 outside top 500
2027 54 0.03 outside top 500
2028 55 0.03 outside top 500
2029 56 0.03 outside top 500
2030 57 0.03 outside top 500

The story of Nikolaos

Nikolaos is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,591 in 2025 with 51 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1962, 2,072 American babies have been named Nikolaos. Its peak came in 2014, when 58 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2010s.

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 Nikolaos stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Nikolaos?

The median living Nikolaos is about 21 years old; half are between 10 and 39. An estimated 2,000 people named Nikolaos are alive in the United States today.

median 21 020406080100

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

Nikolaos year by year

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

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 51 #2,591
2024 47 #2,783
2023 50 #2,646
2022 48 #2,745
2021 56 #2,426
2020 48 #2,647
2019 46 #2,754
2018 38 #3,089
2017 40 #2,988
2016 48 #2,609
2015 42 #2,846
2014 58 #2,289
2013 47 #2,588
2012 34 #3,283
2011 48 #2,577
2010 47 #2,619
2009 45 #2,738
2008 49 #2,570
2007 52 #2,467
2006 32 #3,359
2005 44 #2,552
2004 49 #2,333
2003 39 #2,607
2002 27 #3,316
2001 36 #2,668
2000 31 #2,903
1995 35 #2,285
1990 23 #2,843
1985 37 #1,690
1980 27 #2,037
1975 31 #1,652
1970 16 #2,377
1965 6 #3,813
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Nikolaos

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

  1. 1 Nikolaos Michaloliakos Nikolaos Michaloliakos Greek politician (born 1957) Contemporary
  2. 2 Nikolaos Plastiras Nikolaos Plastiras Soldier and Prime Minister of Greece (1883–1953) 19th century
  3. 3 Nikolaos Trikoupis Nikolaos Trikoupis Greek general and politician 1868–1956 · 19th century
  4. 4 Nikolaos Gyzis Nikolaos Gyzis Greek painter (1842-1901) 19th century
  5. 5 Nikolaos Kaklamanakis Greek windsurfer b. 1968 · Contemporary
  6. 6 Nikolaos Kalogeropoulos Nikolaos Kalogeropoulos Greek politician (1851–1927) 19th century
  7. 7 Nikolaos Deligiannis Nikolaos Deligiannis Greek politician (1845–1910) 19th century
  8. 8 Nikolaos Andriakopoulos Nikolaos Andriakopoulos Greek gymnast 1878–2000 · 19th century
  9. 9 Nikolaos Morakis Greek sports shooter b. 1900 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Nikolaos?

The median living Nikolaos is about 21 years old. Half of all living Nikolaoss are between 10 and 39 years old.

How many people named Nikolaos are alive today?

An estimated 2,000 people named Nikolaos are alive in the United States, based on 2,072 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Nikolaos mean?

Borrowed from Greek Νικόλαος (Nikólaos), from Ancient Greek Νικόλαος (Nikólaos), from νικάω (nikáō, “I conquer”) + λαός (laós, “people”).

How popular is the name Nikolaos in 2025?

Nikolaos ranked #2,591 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 51 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Nikolaos?

2,072 babies have been named Nikolaos in the United States since 1962, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Nikolaos most popular?

Nikolaos peaked in 2014, when 58 newborns received the name.

Is Nikolaos a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Nikolaos rising or falling?

Nikolaos has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Will Nikolaos become more popular?

Nikolaos is trending upward. If the recent trend holds, we project roughly 57 boys named Nikolaos in 2030, which would rank outside the top 500. Forecasts assume the current trend continues and become less certain further out.

Who are famous people named Nikolaos?

Well-known people named Nikolaos include Nikolaos Michaloliakos (politician), Nikolaos Plastiras (politician), Nikolaos Trikoupis (military personnel).

Names like Nikolaos

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

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