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Name

Nicholas

/NIK-oh-las/ MasculineGreek

Meaning

Nicholas is a masculine name of Greek origin meaning “victory of the people”.

Nicholas joins the Greek nike, victory, with laos, the people, and owes its reach to the gift-giving fourth-century bishop of Myra who evolved into Santa Claus. Five popes, two Russian emperors, and centuries of English Nicks and Colins descend from the same victorious root.

A US top-10 boys' name in the 1990s and 2000s; a permanent classic.

Popularity in the United States

Boys

Ranked #112 in 2025 · peak #5 in 1999

Data: US Social Security Administration, top-1000 ranks.

At a glance

Origin
Greek
Gender
Masculine
Pronounced
/NIK-oh-las/
Themes
Victory

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Questions

  • Nicholas is a masculine name of Greek origin meaning “victory of the people”. Nicholas joins the Greek nike, victory, with laos, the people, and owes its reach to the gift-giving fourth-century bishop of Myra who evolved into Santa Claus.

  • Nicholas is traditionally a masculine (boy) name. It is a US top-10 boys' name in the 1990s and 2000s; a permanent classic.

  • The name Nicholas comes from Greek. Nicholas joins the Greek nike, victory, with laos, the people, and owes its reach to the gift-giving fourth-century bishop of Myra who evolved into Santa Claus. Five popes, two Russian emperors, and centuries of English Nicks and Colins descend from the same victorious root.

  • Nicholas is pronounced NIK-oh-las.

More names that mean victory

Names that share this meaning.

  1. Berenice FeminineGreek“bringing victory”
  2. Eunice FeminineGreek“good victory”
  3. Jaya FeminineSanskrit“victory”
  4. Laura FeminineLatin“laurel”
  5. Mansur MasculineArabic“victorious, divinely aided”
  6. Masaru MasculineJapanese“victory”