Niklaus
Boy name · #1407 in 2025 · Uniqueness 82/100
Niklaus is currently the #1407 boy name in the United States — 130 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1581, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 13,846 boys born in 2025 was named Niklaus.
The 46-year story
Niklaus first appears in the Social Security records in 1979, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 282 boys were named Niklaus — good for #842 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 Niklaus per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Niklaus against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Niklaus in class?
Niklaus scores 82 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 Niklaus will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Niklaus is most common
Geography matters for names, and Niklaus is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Niklauss were TX (14), NY (12), CA (8), FL (8), NC (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 Niklaus
Statistically, parents drawn to Niklaus tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Klaus, Kassius, Perseus, Genesis, and Amadeus.
KlausKassiusPerseusGenesisAmadeusIgnatiusKaiusZeus
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Niklaus | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 130 | #1401 |
| 2024 | 163 | #1231 |
| 2023 | 185 | #1137 |
| 2022 | 236 | #959 |
| 2021 | 282 | #842 |
| 2020 | 255 | #886 |
| 2019 | 221 | #968 |
| 2018 | 183 | #1079 |
| 2017 | 156 | #1191 |
| 2016 | 118 | #1456 |
| 2015 | 102 | #1581 |
| 2014 | 63 | #2154 |
| 2013 | 37 | #2998 |
| 2012 | 14 | #6001 |
| 2010 | 7 | #9693 |
| 2009 | 6 | #10994 |
| 2008 | 5 | #12553 |
| 2007 | 10 | #7590 |
| 2006 | 16 | #5303 |
| 2005 | 7 | #9115 |
| 2004 | 13 | #5813 |
| 2003 | 11 | #6258 |
| 2002 | 12 | #5725 |
| 2001 | 9 | #6935 |
| 2000 | 13 | #5297 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Niklaus a popular boy name?
Niklaus ranked #1407 among boys in 2025 with 130 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1581.
When was the name Niklaus most popular?
Niklaus peaked in 2021, when 282 American boys received the name (ranked #842 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Niklaus?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 13,846 newborn American boys was named Niklaus. It scores 82/100 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.