Nicholas
Boy name · #112 in 2025 · Uniqueness 50/100
In 2025, 3,115 baby boys were named Nicholas, placing it at #112 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #62, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 578 boys born in 2025 was named Nicholas.
The 145-year story
Nicholas first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 73 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1995, when 29,160 boys were named Nicholas — good for #7 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 Nicholas per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nicholas against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nicholas in class?
Nicholas scores 50 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 Nicholas is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nicholas is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Nicholass were CA (425), TX (318), NY (310), FL (227), NJ (192). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Nicholas
Statistically, parents drawn to Nicholas tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Nicolas, Nathaniel, Jonathan, Carlos, and Antonio.
NicolasNathanielJonathanCarlosAntonioZacharyJordanAustin
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nicholas | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,115 | #112 |
| 2024 | 3,038 | #117 |
| 2023 | 3,261 | #109 |
| 2022 | 3,643 | #97 |
| 2021 | 3,866 | #92 |
| 2020 | 4,065 | #87 |
| 2019 | 4,642 | #78 |
| 2018 | 4,847 | #74 |
| 2017 | 5,372 | #68 |
| 2016 | 5,765 | #63 |
| 2015 | 6,263 | #62 |
| 2014 | 6,779 | #57 |
| 2013 | 7,147 | #54 |
| 2012 | 7,742 | #49 |
| 2011 | 8,601 | #42 |
| 2010 | 9,653 | #37 |
| 2009 | 10,856 | #32 |
| 2008 | 12,533 | #29 |
| 2007 | 14,362 | #20 |
| 2006 | 15,675 | #17 |
| 2005 | 17,076 | #15 |
| 2004 | 18,519 | #13 |
| 2003 | 19,696 | #12 |
| 2002 | 21,390 | #9 |
| 2001 | 22,849 | #6 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nicholas a popular boy name?
Nicholas ranked #112 among boys in 2025 with 3,115 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #62.
When was the name Nicholas most popular?
Nicholas peaked in 1995, when 29,160 American boys received the name (ranked #7 that year). Since 1995 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nicholas?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 578 newborn American boys was named Nicholas. It scores 50/100 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.