Nikola
Boy name · #1652 in 2025 · Uniqueness 79/100
In 2025, 102 baby boys were named Nikola, placing it at #1652 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1271, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 17,647 boys born in 2025 was named Nikola.
Babies named Nikola per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 65-year story
Nikola first appears in the Social Security records in 1960, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2020, when 151 boys were named Nikola — good for #1237 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 Nikola against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nikola in class?
Nikola scores 79 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 Nikola will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nikola is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nikola is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Nikolas were CA (14), IL (11), FL (9), OH (9), NY (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Nikola
Statistically, parents drawn to Nikola tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kainoa, Simcha, Akiva, Naveen, and Zakaria.
KainoaSimchaAkivaNaveenZakariaYehoshuaNiallShalom
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nikola | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 102 | #1644 |
| 2024 | 108 | #1589 |
| 2023 | 126 | #1440 |
| 2022 | 125 | #1447 |
| 2021 | 147 | #1291 |
| 2020 | 151 | #1237 |
| 2019 | 134 | #1340 |
| 2018 | 148 | #1244 |
| 2017 | 132 | #1348 |
| 2016 | 132 | #1349 |
| 2015 | 141 | #1271 |
| 2014 | 120 | #1402 |
| 2013 | 110 | #1483 |
| 2012 | 102 | #1551 |
| 2011 | 97 | #1587 |
| 2010 | 81 | #1806 |
| 2009 | 81 | #1825 |
| 2008 | 88 | #1719 |
| 2007 | 65 | #2094 |
| 2006 | 71 | #1893 |
| 2005 | 61 | #2035 |
| 2004 | 73 | #1731 |
| 2003 | 54 | #2077 |
| 2002 | 59 | #1888 |
| 2001 | 76 | #1572 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nikola a popular boy name?
Nikola ranked #1652 among boys in 2025 with 102 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1271.
When was the name Nikola most popular?
Nikola peaked in 2020, when 151 American boys received the name (ranked #1237 that year). Since 2020 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nikola?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 17,647 newborn American boys was named Nikola. It scores 79/100 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.