Baby Name Popularity Profile

Nikolai

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Nikolai.

✦ Victory of the people 🌍 Slavic, Greek traditional royal
National Rank (2025) #605
All-Time Peak Rank #474 Achieved 2018
Total U.S. Births 11,027 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 100.0% Boy / 0.0% Girl Male Archetype
First Recorded 1960 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2010s 639 births in 2016
💡 The Nikolai Vibe: Considered a Modern Trend. A contemporary choice reflecting current cultural naming rhythms and popularity brackets.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Victory of the people
Language Origin Slavic, Greek
Origin Type multiple
Derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning 'victory of the people', via its Slavic form.
Common Nicknames
Kolya Niko
Alternative Spellings
Nikolay Nikola
Pronunciation: NEE-ko-ly
Themes & Categories
traditional royal
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Nikolai

According to SSA data, Nikolai achieved its highest historical rank of #474 in 2018. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2016 with 639 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 25.4%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 57 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Nikolai across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Stable
10-Year Shift -25.4% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 639 births in 2016
Years in Top 100 0 yrs
Years in Top 500 4 yrs
Registry Streak 57 yrs
Historical Volatility Moderately Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 0
1890s: 0
1900s: 0
1910s: 0
1920s: 0
1930s: 0
1940s: 0
1950s: 0
1960s: 52
1970s: 202
1980s: 291
1990s: 733
2000s: 1,632
2010s: 5,060
2020s: 3,057

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Ni-ko-lai
Letter Count 7 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 54.1% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 54.1% of SSA names. Starts with N, a letter used by only 3.6% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Nikolai.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Nevada
Top States Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Alaska, Washington
States with Data 43
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Nevada Unranked 101 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #585 267 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #447 722 2021 +7.7% Growth
Alaska Unranked 27 2010 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #492 303 2019 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #459 217 2017 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #461 148 2017 Insufficient historical volume
California #489 1,669 2016 23.3% Decline
New Mexico #259 75 2015 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #666 1,025 2015 26.2% Decline
Oregon Unranked 108 2018 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #714 243 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #900 194 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland Unranked 141 2021 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #707 264 2017 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #532 222 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #628 279 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #612 172 2018 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma Unranked 97 2013 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #558 141 2011 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #1001 192 2022 Insufficient historical volume
New York #613 520 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut #430 73 2015 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #707 136 2013 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #700 290 2015 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #450 333 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #993 296 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #632 133 2018 Insufficient historical volume
Hawaii Unranked 18 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas Unranked 56 2020 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts Unranked 116 2016 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #590 68 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #607 58 2014 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho Unranked 13 2020 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa Unranked 42 2018 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana Unranked 46 2020 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama Unranked 42 2018 Insufficient historical volume
Maine Unranked 10 2015 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota Unranked 7 2018 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia Unranked 14 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas Unranked 16 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska #369 7 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi Unranked 5 2015 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
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👧 Sister Suggestions
Daleyza Elliott Galilea Yaretzi Emberly Raegan Ivanna Jimena Amiyah Aleena

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