Nikolas
Boy name · #717 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Nikolas? In official American birth records, Nikolas has been tracked continuously since 1937, giving it 88 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nikolas against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nikolas in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nikolas is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Nikolas will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nikolas is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nikolas is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Nikolas is most common in MA (0.5 per 1,000), NJ (0.4 per 1,000), AZ (0.4 per 1,000), CA (0.4 per 1,000), FL (0.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.3 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Nikolas is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Nikolas
Nikolas belongs to the Nicholas family — closely related nicknames and spellings of the same name.
NicholasNickNickyNikolasNicolasNico
Counted as one name, the Nicholas family went to about 7,733 boys in 2025 — together they'd rank around #25, versus #717 for Nikolas alone.
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
How old is the name Nikolas?
In official American birth records, the name Nikolas first appeared in 1937 (over 88 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 88 years.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.