Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Nicklaus isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1964. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Nicklaus through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,462
- 3,462 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1997
- 156 babies
- 2025
- 11
- #7,535 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −24%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 11 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 7,535 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 24.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 156 in 1997. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,673 as a first name in 2020; 770 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.
Nicklaus’s family of names
In English usage, Nicklaus has a conventional equivalent in the German form Nikolaus. In German usage, Nicklaus as a surname has a related form in Nikolaus.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Nicklaus, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Nickalaus
>99% boys
Nyshaun
>99% boys
Niraj
“resembling a lotus”
>99% boys
Naser
“one who offers his support”
>99% boys
Kaelan
“a mighty warrior”
85% boys · 15% girls
Navin
“a pleasant, lovely woman” · “one who is strong-willed”
>99% boys
Jacquez
Jacquez is a surname.
>99% boys
Deshun
>99% boys