Nikolai

Meaning: The people's victory
Origin: Variant of Nicholas (from Greek)

Boy's name · #605 in the US (2025) · 2020s wave

Popularity over time

Nikolai reached its best rank, #474, in 2018 and ranked #605 in 2025. Roughly 11,000 boys have been named Nikolai since 1960.

Across the states

See where Nikolai is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 34 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Nikolai ranks in other countries and regions.

#103 in Norway (2025) · #525 in Austria (2025) · #559 in Poland (2025) · #559 in Sweden (2025) · #960 in Switzerland (2025) · #996 in Ireland (2025) · #1,258 in England & Wales (2025) · #2,866 in France (2025) · #787 in Canada (2024).

Famous Nikolais

Nikolai Gogol — Russian writer of Ukrainian origin (1809–1852)
Nikolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky — Russian mathematician (1792–1856)
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov — Russian composer (1844–1908)
Nikolai Noskov — Soviet and Russian singer and song writer
Nikolai Bukharin — Russian revolutionary and politician (1888–1938)

In stories & tradition

Nikolai Rostov — War and Peace (book)
Nikolai Stepanovich Sokolov^it — Metal Gear (video game series)
Nikolai Stavrogin^it — Demons (book)

What Nikolais become

Among 2,700 notable people named Nikolai:

Military figures appear 4.13× more often than among typical names — e.g. Nikolai Yudenich, Russian general.

Similar names: Nicolai · Blaze · Nikolas · Malikai · Jayceon · Niko

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Service