How Many People Are Named Nicholas?

Complete statistics for the name Nicholas: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Nicholas
Rare
Greek

Nicholas, derived from the Greek name Nikolaos meaning 'victory of the people', is a common name in the United States with 841,291 living bearers, making up 1 in 392 Americans. Its popularity peaked in 1995 with 29,217 births, showing a steady decline since then.

~25,235
Living in US
1 in 13,135
Americans
1995
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Victory of the people
🌐
Origin
Greek
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 9
Personality Traits
Kind Caring Strong Determined
9
Life Path Number

Life-path number 9 symbolizes compassion, empathy, and humanitarianism.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

841,291
Worldwide Bearers
🇺🇸 United States
841
🇨🇦 Canada
47
🇦🇺 Australia
32
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
183
🇷🇺 Russia
124

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
838,396 (100%)
♀ Female
2,896 (0%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 37
342,315
Would be under 30 (37%)
496,081
Would be 30–60 (54%)
87,567
Would be over 60 (9%)

All 925,963 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1995

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
100
Classic Feel
50
Modern Appeal
60
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Nicholas Through the Generations

Over the decades, Nicholas has seen a significant rise and fall in popularity. Born in the late 1980s and early 1990s, many people named Nicholas are now in their mid-thirties. With 342,315 under 30, 496,081 aged 30-60, and 87,567 over 60, the name has a fairly even distribution across different age groups. its declining trend, it remains a name between classic and modern, with a rich history and cultural significance.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

California 97,075
New York 95,969
Pennsylvania 53,884
Illinois 49,170
Ohio 47,142
Texas 45,838
New Jersey 41,741
Florida 39,270
Michigan 38,529
Massachusetts 32,315

⭐ Famous People Named Nicholas

Nicholas is a male name, the Anglophone version of an ancient Greek name in use since antiquity, and cognate with the modern Greek Νικόλαος, Nikolaos. It originally derived from a combination of two Greek words meaning 'victory' and 'people'. In turn, the name means "victory of the people."…

Full list on Wikipedia →

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Nicholas's Greek roots

📄 About the Name Nicholas

How Many People Have the Name Nicholas?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 25,235 people in the United States currently share the name Nicholas. That works out to roughly 1 in every 13,135 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.

Is Nicholas a Common or Rare Name?

Nicholas is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Nicholas Mean?

Nicholas means "victory of the people" and comes from Greek origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 9.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Nicholas in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.

When Was Nicholas Most Popular?

The name Nicholas reached peak popularity in 1995, with 29,217 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Nicholas?

Approximately 25,235 people named Nicholas live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 25,235. That works out to roughly 1 in 13,135 Americans.

Is Nicholas a rare name?

Nicholas is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 13,135 Americans has this name.

What does the name Nicholas mean?

Nicholas means "victory of the people" and comes from Greek origins.

Is Nicholas more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Nicholas are male and 0% are female.

When was Nicholas most popular?

Nicholas peaked in 1995 with 29,217 births that year. Current trend: Declining.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US25,235
All-Time Births25,235
1 in X1 in 13,135
RarityRare
GenderMale
Avg Age37
Peak Year1995
Male %100%
Female %0%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.