Given name & surname
Nick
“of the victorious people”
In English use, Nick is a short form of Nicholas. One Greek interpretation is “of the victorious people.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Nick carries the interpretation “of the victorious people.” In English use, Nick is a short form of Nicholas. One Greek interpretation is “of the victorious people.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
Nick is used as a form of Nicholas.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Nick is a short form of Nicholas. The history of Nicholas gives this family its wider story. Nicholas’s Christian associations include Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop of Myra in Lycia, about whom virtually nothing factual is known.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Nick through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 50,589
- 50,457 boys · 132 girls
- Most popular year
- 1960
- 1,098 babies
- 2025
- 124
- #1,447 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −6%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 124 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,447 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 5.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 1,098 in 1960. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (21). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 115,412 as a first name in 2020; 3,601 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Nick’s family of names
In English usage, Nick is a diminutive of Nicholas. Nick has a surname derivative in Nixon. Nick has a related form in Nikki.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Nick has relatives in 14 languages. Lines run from its English roots to each of them.
Nicknames & forms 27
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 19
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Nick
- Nick JonasAmerican singer, actor and musicianborn 1992
- Nick NolteAmerican actor (born 1941)
- Nick CaveAustralian musician and singerborn 1957
- Nick CleggBritish politician and media executive (born 1967)
- Nick VujicicAustralian evangelist and motivational speakerborn 1982
- Nick HeidfeldGerman racing driverborn 1977
- Nick DrakeBritish musician1948–1974
- Nick CarterAmerican singer (born 1980)
- Nick HornbyEnglish novelist, screenwriter, essayist, and film producer (born 1957)
Characters named Nick: Nick Fury (Marvel Comics), Dr. Nick (The Simpsons franchise), Nick Carter (fictional detective), Nick Stokes (fictional character).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Nick, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Sancton
“saint”
—
Sainsbury
“from the saint's settlement”
>99% boys
Niels
“the champion” · “of the victorious people”
>99% boys
Nils
“of the victorious people”
>99% boys
Rock
“one who is calm; restful”
>99% boys
Conan
“resembling a wolf” · “one who is high and mighty”
>99% boys
Denis
“a follower of Dionysus” · “follower of Dionysus”
94% boys · 6% girls
Rocky
“one who is calm; restful” · “one who is bright with fame”
93% boys · 7% girls