Nicolai
Boy name · #2581 in 2025 · Uniqueness 74/100
Nicolai ranks #2581 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 51 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1870, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 35,294 boys born in 2025 was named Nicolai.
The 63-year story
Nicolai first appears in the Social Security records in 1962, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2015, when 78 boys were named Nicolai — good for #1870 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Nicolai per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nicolai against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nicolai in class?
Nicolai scores 74 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Nicolai will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nicolai is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nicolai is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Nicolais were CA (7), FL (6), OH (6), TX (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Nicolai
Statistically, parents drawn to Nicolai tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Naftali, Nakai, Dakarai, Malachai, and Nachman.
NaftaliNakaiDakaraiMalachaiNachmanMakhaiNiccoloNaftuli
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nicolai | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 51 | #2572 |
| 2024 | 52 | #2559 |
| 2023 | 54 | #2480 |
| 2022 | 69 | #2136 |
| 2021 | 50 | #2588 |
| 2020 | 50 | #2546 |
| 2019 | 55 | #2421 |
| 2018 | 62 | #2210 |
| 2017 | 45 | #2715 |
| 2016 | 66 | #2110 |
| 2015 | 78 | #1870 |
| 2014 | 68 | #2063 |
| 2013 | 60 | #2182 |
| 2012 | 63 | #2132 |
| 2011 | 50 | #2478 |
| 2010 | 60 | #2187 |
| 2009 | 59 | #2231 |
| 2008 | 70 | #2001 |
| 2007 | 50 | #2504 |
| 2006 | 57 | #2221 |
| 2005 | 48 | #2399 |
| 2004 | 47 | #2376 |
| 2003 | 45 | #2349 |
| 2002 | 30 | #3022 |
| 2001 | 27 | #3228 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nicolai a popular boy name?
Nicolai ranked #2581 among boys in 2025 with 51 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1870.
When was the name Nicolai most popular?
Nicolai peaked in 2015, when 78 American boys received the name (ranked #1870 that year). Since 2015 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nicolai?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 35,294 newborn American boys was named Nicolai. It scores 74/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.