Nicolas
Boy name · #177 in 2025 · Uniqueness 44/100
Nicolas is currently the #177 boy name in the United States — 2,053 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #202, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 877 boys born in 2025 was named Nicolas.
The 143-year story
Nicolas first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2003, when 3,003 boys were named Nicolas — good for #134 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 Nicolas per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nicolas against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nicolas in class?
Nicolas scores 44 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Nicolas is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nicolas is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Nicolass were CA (401), TX (387), FL (212), NY (116), NJ (90). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Nicolas
Statistically, parents drawn to Nicolas tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Nicholas, Dallas, Andres, Jesus, and Nathaniel.
NicholasDallasAndresJesusNathanielCarlosConnorEmmanuel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nicolas | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,053 | #177 |
| 2024 | 1,997 | #184 |
| 2023 | 1,901 | #192 |
| 2022 | 1,989 | #191 |
| 2021 | 2,009 | #188 |
| 2020 | 1,894 | #202 |
| 2019 | 2,145 | #181 |
| 2018 | 2,098 | #195 |
| 2017 | 1,919 | #206 |
| 2016 | 2,085 | #194 |
| 2015 | 1,998 | #202 |
| 2014 | 2,077 | #196 |
| 2013 | 2,129 | #191 |
| 2012 | 2,131 | #180 |
| 2011 | 2,242 | #168 |
| 2010 | 2,392 | #163 |
| 2009 | 2,491 | #157 |
| 2008 | 2,683 | #151 |
| 2007 | 2,833 | #144 |
| 2006 | 2,939 | #140 |
| 2005 | 2,966 | #136 |
| 2004 | 2,872 | #138 |
| 2003 | 3,003 | #134 |
| 2002 | 2,810 | #137 |
| 2001 | 2,824 | #142 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nicolas a popular boy name?
Nicolas ranked #177 among boys in 2025 with 2,053 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #202.
When was the name Nicolas most popular?
Nicolas peaked in 2003, when 3,003 American boys received the name (ranked #134 that year). Since 2003 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nicolas?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 877 newborn American boys was named Nicolas. It scores 44/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
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.