Nickolas
Boy name · #1492 in 2025 · Uniqueness 80/100
Nickolas is currently the #1492 boy name in the United States — 118 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #727, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 15,254 boys born in 2025 was named Nickolas.
Babies named Nickolas per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 143-year story
Nickolas first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 1,156 boys were named Nickolas — good for #259 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nickolas against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nickolas in class?
Nickolas scores 80 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Nickolas will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nickolas is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nickolas is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Nickolass were CA (20), TX (16), FL (12), NY (11), PA (7). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Nickolas
Statistically, parents drawn to Nickolas tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Nikolas, Marquis, Demarcus, Nestor, and Andreas.
NikolasMarquisDemarcusNestorAndreasMarkusDeshawnNathanial
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nickolas | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 118 | #1492 |
| 2024 | 114 | #1540 |
| 2023 | 130 | #1408 |
| 2022 | 133 | #1393 |
| 2021 | 168 | #1170 |
| 2020 | 195 | #1039 |
| 2019 | 208 | #1004 |
| 2018 | 265 | #840 |
| 2017 | 223 | #936 |
| 2016 | 301 | #788 |
| 2015 | 339 | #727 |
| 2014 | 335 | #720 |
| 2013 | 380 | #645 |
| 2012 | 457 | #565 |
| 2011 | 463 | #549 |
| 2010 | 565 | #465 |
| 2009 | 621 | #447 |
| 2008 | 739 | #399 |
| 2007 | 842 | #369 |
| 2006 | 938 | #335 |
| 2005 | 939 | #328 |
| 2004 | 1,069 | #298 |
| 2003 | 911 | #325 |
| 2002 | 891 | #317 |
| 2001 | 973 | #301 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nickolas a popular boy name?
Nickolas ranked #1492 among boys in 2025 with 118 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #727.
When was the name Nickolas most popular?
Nickolas peaked in 1998, when 1,156 American boys received the name (ranked #259 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nickolas?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 15,254 newborn American boys was named Nickolas. It scores 80/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
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.