Nikolas
Boy name · #717 in 2025 · Uniqueness 64/100
Nikolas ranks #717 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 375 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #566, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 4,800 boys born in 2025 was named Nikolas.
The 88-year story
Nikolas first appears in the Social Security records in 1937, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2004, when 1,060 boys were named Nikolas — good for #301 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 Nikolas per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nikolas against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nikolas in class?
Nikolas scores 64 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 Nikolas is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nikolas is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Nikolass were CA (62), TX (52), FL (31), IL (16), NJ (16). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Nikolas
Statistically, parents drawn to Nikolas tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Nickolas, Tomas, Andreas, Moises, and Davis.
NickolasTomasAndreasMoisesDavisJonasAlexisUlises
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nikolas | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 375 | #717 |
| 2024 | 362 | #728 |
| 2023 | 422 | #649 |
| 2022 | 475 | #595 |
| 2021 | 477 | #585 |
| 2020 | 453 | #604 |
| 2019 | 454 | #602 |
| 2018 | 502 | #552 |
| 2017 | 463 | #586 |
| 2016 | 499 | #565 |
| 2015 | 497 | #566 |
| 2014 | 495 | #557 |
| 2013 | 520 | #514 |
| 2012 | 550 | #487 |
| 2011 | 562 | #474 |
| 2010 | 591 | #455 |
| 2009 | 633 | #443 |
| 2008 | 674 | #430 |
| 2007 | 741 | #398 |
| 2006 | 780 | #383 |
| 2005 | 898 | #335 |
| 2004 | 1,060 | #301 |
| 2003 | 795 | #351 |
| 2002 | 745 | #358 |
| 2001 | 747 | #355 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nikolas a popular boy name?
Nikolas ranked #717 among boys in 2025 with 375 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #566.
When was the name Nikolas most popular?
Nikolas peaked in 2004, when 1,060 American boys received the name (ranked #301 that year). Since 2004 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nikolas?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 4,800 newborn American boys was named Nikolas. It scores 64/100 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.