Nicolas
Boy name · #177 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Nicolas? In official American birth records, Nicolas has been tracked continuously since 1882, giving it 143 years of documented American history.
Nicolas is currently the #177 boy name in the United States — 2,053 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #202, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 877 boys born in 2025 was named Nicolas.
The 143-year story
Nicolas first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2003, when 3,003 boys were named Nicolas — good for #134 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 Nicolas per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nicolas against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nicolas in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nicolas is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Nicolas is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nicolas is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Nicolas is most common in CA (2.3 per 1,000), NJ (2.3 per 1,000), FL (2.2 per 1,000), TX (2.2 per 1,000), CT (1.9 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Nicolas is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Nicolas
Nicolas 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 #177 for Nicolas alone.
Names like Nicolas
Statistically, parents drawn to Nicolas tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Nicholas, Dallas, Andres, Jesus, and Nathaniel.
NicholasDallasAndresJesusNathanielCarlosConnorEmmanuel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nicolas | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,053 | #177 |
| 2024 | 1,997 | #184 |
| 2023 | 1,901 | #192 |
| 2022 | 1,989 | #191 |
| 2021 | 2,009 | #188 |
| 2020 | 1,894 | #202 |
| 2019 | 2,145 | #181 |
| 2018 | 2,098 | #195 |
| 2017 | 1,919 | #206 |
| 2016 | 2,085 | #194 |
| 2015 | 1,998 | #202 |
| 2014 | 2,077 | #196 |
| 2013 | 2,129 | #191 |
| 2012 | 2,131 | #180 |
| 2011 | 2,242 | #168 |
| 2010 | 2,392 | #163 |
| 2009 | 2,491 | #157 |
| 2008 | 2,683 | #151 |
| 2007 | 2,833 | #144 |
| 2006 | 2,939 | #140 |
| 2005 | 2,966 | #136 |
| 2004 | 2,872 | #138 |
| 2003 | 3,003 | #134 |
| 2002 | 2,810 | #137 |
| 2001 | 2,824 | #142 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Nicolas?
In official American birth records, the name Nicolas first appeared in 1882 (over 143 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Nicolas a popular boy name?
Nicolas ranked #177 among boys in 2025 with 2,053 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #202.
When was the name Nicolas most popular?
Nicolas peaked in 2003, when 3,003 American boys received the name (ranked #134 that year). Since 2003 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nicolas?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 877 newborn American boys was named Nicolas. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.