Nicholas

#10,917 for girls in 2025, 8 births · #112 for boys in 2025, 3,115 births
Given to boys 99.7% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1999 · 25,639 births
Debut · boys
73 births
In top 100 · boys
51 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
926,047
since 1880

Nicholas over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201976peak #5, 1999boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#10,9178#1123,115
2024#1173,038
2023#1093,261
2022#13,5926#973,643
2021#923,866
2020#15,0885#874,065
2019#11,3568#784,642
2018#744,847
2017#14,1246#685,372
2016#14,3316#635,765
2015#13,0067#626,263
2014#8,96612#576,779
2013#8,58013#547,147
2012#12,1998#497,742
2011#7,78315#428,601
2010#9,79011#379,653
2009#7,06618#3210,856
2008#6,35021#2912,533
2007#8,52014#2014,362
2006#7,48216#1715,675
2005#5,26624#1517,076
2004#2,37072#1318,519
2003#3,29144#1219,696
2002#3,46139#921,390
2001#3,70335#622,849
2000#3,40439#624,653
1999#3,24539#525,639
1998#3,22238#626,632
1997#2,51151#627,258
1996#2,45152#627,724
1995#2,34556#729,160
1994#2,07966#927,770
1993#1,65391#828,114
1992#1,79880#1227,762
1991#1,76681#1227,357
1990#1,97469#1427,913
1989#1,288122#1428,230
1988#1,132135#1425,303
1987#983160#1623,247
1986#1,097135#1722,800
1985#957162#1922,384
1984#988146#2021,017
1983#1,037135#2119,891
1982#1,058136#2219,643
1981#1,114124#2119,775
1980#1,030139#1721,018
1979#1,012140#1521,344
1978#1,169108#2516,342
1977#2,51534#516,071
1976#3,40720#773,466
1975#2,96924#813,319
1974#3,21221#803,218
1973#3,78716#853,153
1972#3,71416#992,843
1971#3,06222#1232,608
1970#6,3627#1232,704
1969#5,4568#1232,577
1968#3,31516#1182,548
1967#3,84512#1302,288
1966#5,2737#1392,139
1965#5,2897#1492,068
1964#1582,069
1963#4,27210#1552,130
1962#1552,144
1961#4,8828#1582,078
1960#1532,298
1959#5,5666#1562,196
1958#4,1939#1532,189
1957#4,9187#1522,197
1956#5,3256#1472,212
1955#4,3768#1412,186
1954#3,49011#1342,368
1953#5,6735#1312,359
1952#1272,343
1951#1202,388
1950#1242,176
1949#5,2445#1361,998
1948#5,2435#1421,929
1947#1431,935
1946#1441,675
1945#4,0256#1511,357
1944#1501,361
1943#4,1966#1481,434
1942#1421,500
1941#3,9546#1461,212
1940#1541,102
1939#1561,032
1938#4,3425#161989
1937#159935
1936#157929
1935#158911
1934#165873
1933#3,4067#160888
1932#3,9016#163925
1931#3,2268#1451,103
1930#2,30614#1471,131
1929#2,43713#1421,192
1928#3,7437#1401,216
1927#2,69912#1371,272
1926#2,25716#1331,319
1925#4,0287#1331,332
1924#2,66113#1221,488
1923#4,9675#1201,468
1922#4,0117#1221,414
1921#4,4646#1141,553
1920#4,3986#1241,354
1919#3,8177#1221,321
1918#1131,488
1917#4,0836#1091,412
1916#3,5527#1071,419
1915#1041,427
1914#1021,151
1913#110796
1912#113676
1911#120308
1910#137235
1909#133204
1908#113226
1907#143161
1906#143144
1905#171112
1904#177102
1903#18490
1902#156112
1901#16888
1900#19995
1899#19669
1898#17294
1897#17787
1896#156106
1895#18784
1894#19277
1893#16289
1892#16695
1891#16478
1890#17578
1889#19168
1888#15797
1887#15779
1886#16285
1885#19566
1884#19369
1883#17471
1882#19366
1881#20356
1880#17773
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Nicholas was already there! It came in at #177, and was given to 73 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1880–1885, when fewer than 74 boys a year got the name.

Where Nicholas is popular in 1976

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #50 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 187 boysAKMaine: #71 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 343 boysMEVermont: #78 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 386 boysVTNew Hampshire: #81 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 481 boysNHWashington: #85 for boys · 57 births · 1 in 424 boysWAIdaho: #71 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 328 boysIDMontana: #99 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 463 boysMTNorth Dakota: #97 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 549 boysNDMinnesota: #55 for boys · 128 births · 1 in 211 boysMNIllinois: #64 for boys · 229 births · 1 in 342 boysILWisconsin: #57 for boys · 114 births · 1 in 270 boysWIMichigan: #66 for boys · 164 births · 1 in 373 boysMINew York: #57 for boys · 387 births · 1 in 290 boysNYMassachusetts: #57 for boys · 108 births · 1 in 297 boysMARhode Island: #60 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 288 boysRIOregon: #62 for boys · 57 births · 1 in 284 boysORNevada: #59 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 262 boysNVWyoming: #91 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 379 boysWYSouth Dakota: #99 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 486 boysSDIowa: #63 for boys · 62 births · 1 in 316 boysIAIndiana: #81 for boys · 79 births · 1 in 483 boysINOhio: #58 for boys · 235 births · 1 in 319 boysOHPennsylvania: #59 for boys · 218 births · 1 in 328 boysPANew Jersey: #49 for boys · 164 births · 1 in 247 boysNJConnecticut: #47 for boys · 75 births · 1 in 211 boysCTCalifornia: #91 for boys · 348 births · 1 in 456 boysCAUtah: #122 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 745 boysUTColorado: #61 for boys · 64 births · 1 in 294 boysCONebraska: #64 for boys · 36 births · 1 in 299 boysNEMissouri: #76 for boys · 84 births · 1 in 393 boysMOKentucky: #103 for boys · 40 births · 1 in 666 boysKYWest Virginia: #131 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 944 boysWVVirginia: #163 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 1,052 boysVAMaryland: #73 for boys · 50 births · 1 in 404 boysMDDelaware: #51 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 234 boysDEArizona: #98 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 482 boysAZNew Mexico: #214 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 1,043 boysNMKansas: #106 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 583 boysKSArkansas: #191 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,141 boysARTennessee: #133 for boys · 41 births · 1 in 726 boysTNNorth Carolina: #153 for boys · 39 births · 1 in 929 boysNCSouth Carolina: #257 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,811 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #65 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 295 boysDCOklahoma: #147 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 955 boysOKLouisiana: #156 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 707 boysLAMississippi: #162 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 860 boysMSAlabama: #167 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 967 boysALGeorgia: #168 for boys · 38 births · 1 in 937 boysGAHawaii: #128 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 563 boysHITexas: #187 for boys · 116 births · 1 in 927 boysTXFlorida: #131 for boys · 69 births · 1 in 684 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Connecticut#47 · 1 in 211
  2. New Jersey#49 · 1 in 247
  3. Alaska#50 · 1 in 187
  4. Delaware#51 · 1 in 234
  5. Minnesota#55 · 1 in 211

Best ever in a state: #1 in Maine, 1992.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Connecticut#47751 in 211
New Jersey#491641 in 247
Alaska#50161 in 187
Delaware#51141 in 234
Minnesota#551281 in 211
Massachusetts#571081 in 297
New York#573871 in 290
Wisconsin#571141 in 270
Ohio#582351 in 319
Nevada#59141 in 262
Pennsylvania#592181 in 328
Rhode Island#60171 in 288
Colorado#61641 in 294
Oregon#62571 in 284
Iowa#63621 in 316
Illinois#642291 in 342
Nebraska#64361 in 299
District of Columbia#65261 in 295
Michigan#661641 in 373
Idaho#71221 in 328
Maine#71191 in 343
Maryland#73501 in 404
Missouri#76841 in 393
Vermont#7871 in 386
Indiana#81791 in 483
New Hampshire#81101 in 481
Washington#85571 in 424
California#913481 in 456
Wyoming#9171 in 379
North Dakota#9791 in 549
Arizona#98371 in 482
Montana#99111 in 463
South Dakota#99101 in 486
Kentucky#103401 in 666
Kansas#106261 in 583
Utah#122221 in 745
Hawaii#128111 in 563
Florida#131691 in 684
West Virginia#131141 in 944
Tennessee#133411 in 726
Oklahoma#147201 in 955
North Carolina#153391 in 929
Louisiana#156431 in 707
Mississippi#162211 in 860
Virginia#163291 in 1,052
Alabama#167261 in 967
Georgia#168381 in 937
Texas#1871161 in 927
Arkansas#191131 in 1,141
New Mexico#21491 in 1,043
South Carolina#257111 in 1,811

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Nicholas
Momentum · boys
Falling
  • 5 spots since 2024 (#117#112)
  • 25 spots since 2020 (#87#112)
  • 50 spots since 2015 (#62#112)
  • Biggest jump: 33 spots in 1886 (#195#162)
  • Biggest drop: 34 spots in 1889 (#157#191)
Rise & fade · boys
119 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1999 at #5 (25,639 births)
  • Births halved by 2008, 9 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 10 for 10 yrs
  • Top 10: 10 yrs · run 1993–2002
  • Top 100: 51 yrs · run 1972–2022
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 65
  • Highest: 1 in 65 boys born in 1995 were named Nicholas (1.5%)
  • Latest: 1 in 548 boys born in 2025 (0.18%)
  • Its best rank, #5 in 1999, was only 1 in 75 (1.3%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 1990s
  • 29.7% of all boys named Nicholas (275,329) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s730#157 (1888)#180
1890s857#156 (1896)#175
1900s1,334#113 (1908)#159
1910s10,233#102 (1914)#114
1920s13,608#114 (1921)#129
1930s9,716#145 (1931)#157
1940s15,503#136 (1949)#146
1950s22,614#120 (1951)#139
1960s22,339#118 (1968)#144
1970s65,068#15 (1979)#76
1980s223,308#14 (1989)#18
1990s275,329#5 (1999)#9
2000s177,609#6 (2000)#16
2010s66,811#37 (2010)#58
2020s20,988#87 (2020)#102

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Nicholas in 1976

girls
#3,407
20 births · 1 in 73,255 girls
boys
#77
3,466 births · 1 in 453 boys

Top girls' names in 1976

  1. #1Jennifer59,473
  2. #2Amy31,339
  3. #3Melissa25,094
  4. #4Heather24,192
  5. #5Angela22,038
  6. #6Michelle19,550
  7. #7Kimberly18,962
  8. #8Jessica18,368
  9. #9Lisa17,346
  10. #10Amanda15,588
  11. #3,407Nicholas20

Top boys' names in 1976

  1. #1Michael66,915
  2. #2Jason52,643
  3. #3Christopher45,190
  4. #4David39,265
  5. #5James38,294
  6. #6John33,976
  7. #7Robert33,789
  8. #8Brian30,517
  9. #9Matthew29,951
  10. #10Daniel24,702
  11. #77Nicholas3,466
More about 1976

girls

1,465,099 girls got a published name in 1976; 1 in 73,255 of them was named Nicholas, which outranked 68.8% of the 10,913 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Nicholas
  1. #3,287Vincenza21
  2. #3,287Winter21
  3. #3,287Zenia21
  4. #3,407Nicholas20
  5. #3,407Adelle20
  6. #3,407Aleasha20
  7. #3,407Alene20
  8. #3,540Abra19
  9. #3,540Akina19
  10. #3,540Alan19

Tied with 132 names at #3,407; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1975
Risers
  1. 3,548Rhiannon#4,141#593
  2. 3,533Mackenzie#4,370#837
  3. 3,060Khalilah#3,774#714
  4. 1,663Kenisha#2,612#949
  5. 1,455Latoria#2,411#956
Fallers
  1. 821Nyree#926#1,747
  2. 668Syreeta#778#1,446
  3. 505Cher#994#1,499
  4. 398Kandice#957#1,355
  5. 370Racquel#973#1,343

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,569,007 boys got a published name in 1976; 1 in 453 of them was named Nicholas, which outranked 98.8% of the 6,495 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 25.2% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Nicholas
  1. #74Marcus3,681
  2. #75Terry3,668
  3. #76Jeffery3,564
  4. #77Nicholas3,466
  5. #78Brent3,405
  6. #79Randy3,320
  7. #80Kyle3,308
Biggest movers since 1975
Risers
  1. 3,506Seneca#4,309#803
  2. 1,165Jameel#2,134#969
  3. 712Delvin#1,658#946
  4. 567Jerimy#1,530#963
  5. 510Jamaal#1,042#532
Fallers
  1. 1,113Santino#1,000#2,113
  2. 511Carnell#900#1,411
  3. 453Nakia#337#790
  4. 395Charlton#938#1,333
  5. 376Benjiman#970#1,346

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1976