Nicholas is a Greek masculine given name derived from the Greek word "nikē", which means victory, and "lāōs" meaning people or nation. Therefore, the name Nicholas means "victory of the people".
The name has been popular throughout history with many notable figures bearing it. Saint Nicholas, born in the 3rd century, was a bishop from Myra (now in modern-day Turkey). He is renowned for his kindness and generosity, which led to him becoming the patron saint of children and sailors.
Nicholas became widespread through Europe during the Middle Ages due to the veneration of St. Nicholas. It has since become one of the most popular names worldwide. Today, variations of Nicholas are used in many languages including Italian (Nicola), Spanish (Nicolás), French (Nicolas), German (Nikolaus), and English (Nick).
Despite its widespread use, the name remains deeply rooted in Greek culture and history. It continues to be a beloved choice for parents seeking a classic yet meaningful name for their sons.
The name Nicholaos has been given to a total of 124 babies born in the United States between the years 1967 and 2008. The popularity of this name appears to have fluctuated over these decades, with periods of higher usage followed by periods of lower usage.
During the early part of this time frame (1967-1973), there were relatively fewer births registered for Nicholaos, with numbers ranging from 5 to 6 per year. However, in the late 1970s and early 1980s (1976-1984), there was a noticeable increase in the usage of this name, reaching a peak of 9 births in 1979.
After this peak, the popularity of Nicholaos began to decline again. Between 1985 and 2000, the annual number of births for this name hovered around 5-6 per year, with brief spikes in 1987 (7 births) and 2001 (7 births). The most recent data available, from 2008, shows that Nicholaos was given to 7 babies born that year.
Overall, these statistics demonstrate that while the name Nicholaos has not been overwhelmingly popular in the United States over this period, it has maintained a consistent presence nonetheless. Its usage has varied over time, with periods of higher and lower popularity, but it has remained a distinctive choice for parents seeking a unique name for their children.