Nicholas is a popular male given name of Greek origin. It means "victory of the people" or "people's victory." The name is derived from two Greek words: 'nike', which means victory, and 'laos', which means people.
The name Nicholas has been used since ancient times but became particularly popular in the Middle Ages due to Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century Christian bishop who was known for his generous deeds and miracles. He was revered as a saint by both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, and his feast day is celebrated on December 6th.
The name Nicholas has been borne by several prominent figures throughout history. Some of these include St. Nicholas himself, who was a historic figure and the inspiration behind Santa Claus; King Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro (1841-1921); and Sir Nicholas Winton, a British humanitarian who organized the rescue of 669 children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia during World War II.
Today, Nicholas remains a popular given name for boys. It has consistently ranked among the top 500 names in the United States since the early 20th century. Variations of the name include Nicolas, Nickolas, and Nicolaus.
The statistics provided show the annual number of births with the name Nicholas in the United States from 1983 to 2004. Over this period, there were a total of 74 babies named Nicholas.
Starting with 6 births in 1983, the number of Nicholas births fluctuated over the years. In 1985 and 1986, there were 8 and 9 births respectively, reaching a peak of 19 births in 1995. However, the numbers fell again afterwards, with only 6 births recorded each year from 1994 to 2004.
Despite these fluctuations, it's clear that Nicholas was a popular name during this period, with at least one baby being named Nicholas every year between 1983 and 2004. This indicates that the name has maintained consistent popularity among parents in the United States over time.