Nikolaos
Boy name · #2580 in 2025 · Uniqueness 72/100
Nikolaos ranks #2580 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 51 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #2809, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 35,294 boys born in 2025 was named Nikolaos.
Babies named Nikolaos per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 63-year story
Nikolaos first appears in the Social Security records in 1962, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2014, when 58 boys were named Nikolaos — good for #2277 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 Nikolaos against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nikolaos in class?
Nikolaos scores 72 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 Nikolaos will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nikolaos is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nikolaos is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Nikolaoss were CA (5), IL (5), NY (5), OH (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Nikolaos
Statistically, parents drawn to Nikolaos tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Alexandros, Georgios, Johannes, Nicodemus, and Nicolai.
AlexandrosGeorgiosJohannesNicodemusNicolaiZacariasNasserNaftali
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nikolaos | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 51 | #2572 |
| 2024 | 47 | #2750 |
| 2023 | 50 | #2614 |
| 2022 | 48 | #2717 |
| 2021 | 56 | #2410 |
| 2020 | 48 | #2617 |
| 2019 | 46 | #2736 |
| 2018 | 38 | #3055 |
| 2017 | 40 | #2951 |
| 2016 | 48 | #2587 |
| 2015 | 42 | #2809 |
| 2014 | 58 | #2277 |
| 2013 | 47 | #2562 |
| 2012 | 34 | #3231 |
| 2011 | 48 | #2547 |
| 2010 | 47 | #2579 |
| 2009 | 45 | #2702 |
| 2008 | 49 | #2542 |
| 2007 | 52 | #2442 |
| 2006 | 32 | #3306 |
| 2005 | 44 | #2528 |
| 2004 | 49 | #2316 |
| 2003 | 39 | #2579 |
| 2002 | 27 | #3259 |
| 2001 | 36 | #2618 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nikolaos a popular boy name?
Nikolaos ranked #2580 among boys in 2025 with 51 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2809.
When was the name Nikolaos most popular?
Nikolaos peaked in 2014, when 58 American boys received the name (ranked #2277 that year). Since 2014 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nikolaos?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 35,294 newborn American boys was named Nikolaos. It scores 72/100 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.