Given name & surname
Nikola
“of the victorious people”
In German use, Nikola is a variant of Nicole. In Greek use, Nicole carries the interpretation “of the victorious people.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Nikola is a variant of Nicole. In Greek use, Nicole carries the interpretation “of the victorious people.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Nikola is a romanization of Никола. Никола comes from Serbo-Croatian, and ultimately from Ancient Greek.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1948. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Nikola through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,102
- 3,444 boys · 658 girls
- Most popular year
- 2020
- 159 babies
- 2025
- 109
- #1,651 for boys · #12,820 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −15%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 93% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 102 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,651 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 12.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 7 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (14). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 5,177 as a first name in 2020; 221 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.
Nikola’s family of names
In English usage, Nikola has a diminutive in Niko. In Maltese usage, Nikola has a conventional equivalent in the English form Nicholas. In German usage, Nikola has a related form in Nicole.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Nikola has relatives in 16 languages.
21 related names in 16 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 14
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 12
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- NicholasEnglish
- Nicolassource · French
- Nikolaosequivalent
- Nikolayequivalent
- Nicolaeequivalent
- Nikolineequivalent
- Nykolaequivalent
- ΝικόλαοςGreek
Show 4 moreShow fewer
See also 8
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Nikola
- Nikola TeslaSerbian-American engineer and inventor (1856–1943)
- Nikola GruevskiFormer politician from North Macedoniaborn 1970
- Nikola JokićSerbian basketball player (born 1995)
- Nikola KalinićCroatian association football playerborn 1988
- Nikola VlašićCroatian footballerborn 1997
- Nikola ŽigićSerbian footballerborn 1980
- Nikola PašićSerbian politician (1845-1926)
- Nikola KarabatićFrench handball playerborn 1984
- Nikola MirotićSpanish/Montenegrin basketball playerborn 1991
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Nikola, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Nico
“of the victorious people”
97% boys · 3% girls
Noel
“born at Christmastime”
81% boys · 19% girls
Apollo
Apollo is a masculine given name from Latin, ultimately from Ancient Greek. It is used in English and Polish.
>99% boys
Gianni
“God is gracious”
80% boys · 20% girls
Nash
“from the cliffs”
99% boys · 1% girls
Isaias
“God is salvation” · “God is my salvation”
>99% boys
Messiah
99% boys · 1% girls
Iker
“a visitor”
>99% boys