Nikolay: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#6,342

among boys · ↓1,342 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Nikolay · -30% vs 2024

How common

1 in 122,005

boys born in 2025

Peak year

2010

32 babies

All-time total

507

#7,838 all-time among boys

First recorded

1992

in Social Security records

Nikolay popularity over time

507 babies have been named Nikolay since 1992, 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

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	–	–	–	–
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	34	3	–	#7,881
2000s	163	16	+379%	#3,528
2010s	219	22	+34%	#3,422
2020s (to 2025)	91	15	-31%	#5,000

The story of Nikolay

Nikolay is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #6,342 in 2025 with 14 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1992, 507 American babies have been named Nikolay. Its peak came in 2010, when 32 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 Nikolay stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Nikolay?

The median living Nikolay is about 13 years old; half are between 8 and 19. An estimated 500 people named Nikolay are alive in the United States today.

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

Nikolay year by year

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

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	14	#6,342
2024	20	#5,000
2023	7	#10,490
2022	17	#5,572
2021	16	#5,709
2020	17	#5,400
2019	17	#5,497
2018	13	#6,595
2017	19	#5,058
2016	15	#5,976
2015	27	#3,958
2014	29	#3,667
2013	27	#3,826
2012	19	#4,987
2011	21	#4,617
2010	32	#3,422
2009	31	#3,528
2008	15	#5,981
2007	17	#5,361
2006	22	#4,329
2005	14	#5,796
2004	22	#4,095
2003	11	#6,591
2002	11	#6,395
2001	9	#7,345
2000	11	#6,199
1995	5	#9,871
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Famous people named Nikolay

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

1 Nikolay Chernyshevsky Russian writer and philosopher (1828–1889) 19th century
2 Nikolay Przhevalsky Polish-Russian explorer (1839–1888) 19th century
3 Nikolay Bobrikov Governor-General of Finland from 1898 to 1904 1839–1904 · 19th century
4 Nikolay Nekrasov Russian poet, critic, publisher (1821–1878) 19th century
5 Nikolay Chkheidze Georgian politician (1864–1926) 19th century
6 Nikolay Karamzin Russian writer, historian, poet and critic (1766–1826) 18th century
7 Nikolay Krestinsky Soviet revolutionary, politician, and diplomat (1883–1938) 19th century
8 Nikolay Pirogov Russian medical scientist (1810–1881) 19th century
9 Nikolay Bogolyubov Soviet mathematician and theoretical physicist (1909–1992) Contemporary
10 Nikolay Pavlovich Ignatyev Russian statesman and diplomat (1832–1908) 19th century
11 Nikolay Voronov Soviet military commander 1899–1968 · 19th century
12 Nikolay Zhukovsky Russian scientist (1847–1921) 19th century
13 Nikolay Cherkasov Soviet and Russian actor (1903–1966) Contemporary
14 Nikolay Raevsky Politician, Russia 1771–1829 · 18th century
15 Nikolay Muravyov-Amursky Russian general, statesman, and diplomat (1809–1881) 19th century
16 Nikolay Basov Soviet physicist (1922–2001) Contemporary
17 Nikolay Semyonov Soviet physicist and chemist (1896–1986) 19th century
18 Nikolay Danilevsky Russian academic (1822–1885) 19th century
19 Nikolay Nosov Writer, Ukraine 1908–1976 · Contemporary
20 Nikolay Krylov Soviet military commander (1903–1972) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Nikolay?

The median living Nikolay is about 13 years old. Half of all living Nikolays are between 8 and 19 years old.

How many people named Nikolay are alive today?

An estimated 500 people named Nikolay are alive in the United States, based on 507 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Nikolay mean?

Spelling variant of Nikolai.

How popular is the name Nikolay in 2025?

Nikolay ranked #6,342 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 14 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Nikolay?

507 babies have been named Nikolay in the United States since 1992, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Nikolay most popular?

Nikolay peaked in 2010, when 32 newborns received the name.

Is Nikolay a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Nikolay rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Nikolay?

Well-known people named Nikolay include Nikolay Chernyshevsky (writer), Nikolay Przhevalsky (explorer), Nikolay Bobrikov (politician).

Names like Nikolay

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

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