Given name & surname
Nikolas
“of the victorious people”
In German use, Nikolas has a related form in Nicole. In Greek use, Nicole carries the interpretation “of the victorious people.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Nikolas has a related form in Nicole. In Greek use, Nicole carries the interpretation “of the victorious people.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Nikolas is a variant of Nicholas. An origin associated with Nicholas is Dutch.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1937. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Nikolas is a variant 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
Nikolas through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 24,050
- 24,035 boys · 15 girls
- Most popular year
- 2004
- 1,065 babies
- 2025
- 375
- #719 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −11%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 375 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 719 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 11.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 1,060 in 2004. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (62). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 18,364 as a first name in 2020; 336 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.
Nikolas’s family of names
In English usage, Nikolas has a diminutive in Niko. Nikolas has a related form in Nicholas. In Basque usage, Nikolas has a conventional equivalent in the English form Nicholas.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Nikolas has relatives in 8 languages.
16 related names in 8 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 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 28
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Nilsequivalent
- Nielsequivalent
- Nikolayequivalent
- Nikosequivalent
- Mykolaequivalent
- NicolaasAfrikaans
- Nicolaeequivalent
- Nikolajequivalent
Show 20 moreShow fewer
- Nicolinoequivalent
- Mikulášequivalent
- Миколаequivalent
- Mikolaequivalent
- Nicolásequivalent
- Νίκοςequivalent
- Nikolazequivalent
- Mikołajequivalent
- Nikólaosequivalent
- Nicolaesequivalent
- Miklavžequivalent
- Niccolòequivalent
- Nicolayequivalent
- Miklósequivalent
- Nickelequivalent
- Николайequivalent
- Nicolòequivalent
- ΝικόλαοςGreek
- NícolasPortuguese
- Mikolášequivalent
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Nikolas
- Nikolas TombazisGreek racing car designerborn 1968
- Nikolas NarteyDanish association football playerborn 2000
- Nikolas IoannouCypriot professional footballerborn 1995
- Nikolas Maesracing cyclistborn 1986
- Nikolas LedgerwoodCanadian association football playerborn 1985
- Nikolas ŠpalekSlovak soccer playerborn 1997
- Nikolas MatinpaloFinnish ice hockey playerborn 1998
- Nikolas VeratschnigAustrian association footballerborn 2003
- Nikolas TheodorouGreek chess playerborn 2000
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Nikolas, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Nickolas
“of the victorious people”
>99% boys
Nicoli
“of the victorious people”
>99% boys
Nixon
“of the victorious people”
95% boys · 5% girls
Niklaas
“of the victorious people”
>99% boys
Nickolaus
“of the victorious people”
>99% boys
Nioclás
“of the victorious people”
>99% boys
Collin
“high” · “of the victorious people”
99% boys · 1% girls
Rocco
“one who is calm; restful”
>99% boys