Nicholas
Origin of the name Nicholas:
From the Latin Nicolaus, a derivative of the Greek Nikolaos (victory of the people), a compound name composed of the elements nikē (victory) and laos (the people). The name was borne by St. Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop of Myra who is regarded as the patron saint of Russia and Greece, and of children, sailors, and wolves.
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Reader Contributions
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- Comments and insights on the name Nicholas: | Edit
Nicholas is the English form of the post-classical Greek personal name "Nikolaos". The spelling with -ch- first occurred in England as early as the 12th century.
In its original form, the name is related to, "Nike," the name of the goddess of victory.- Personal experiences with the name Nicholas: | Edit
If you want to insist on your Nicholas never being called Nick, be prepared to fight a losing battle. My mom was constantly saying "-olas!" to people until my brother was 15, when she gave up.
(That being said, some non-holders of the name, especially female, prefer the longer version, thinking it to sound more distinguished.)
"Nick," especially, seems to be thought of as having an "ethnic" sound: Greek, Russian ("Nikolai"), or perhaps Italian. During the Cold War, the name could sometimes be seen as having "Russian" or "enemy" connotations by the unfriendly, but this was not universal.- Nicknames for Nicholas: | Edit
Nick, Cole, Nico, Niels, Nikos, Colin, Klaus, Kolya (Russian)
- Meanings and history of the name Nicholas: | Edit
Due to the renown of Saint Nicholas, this name has been widely used in the Christian world and has been common in England since the 12th century, though it became a bit less popular after the Protestant Reformation.
- Famous real-life people named Nicholas: | Edit
St. Nicholas of Myra, aka Santa Claus
5 popes, incl. Nicholas I (also sainted), and Nicholas V (antipope)
2 Russian emperors, incl. Nicholas II (deposed by the Russian Revolution)
Nicolaus Copernicus, astronomer
Nicholas Longworth, speaker U.S. House of Representatives
Nicholas Sparks, author
Nick Cave of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Nolte, actor
Nicholas Cage (aka Nicolas Cage), actor
Nick Lowe, English singer-songwriter, musician
Nikos Kazantzakis, Greek author ("The Last Temptation of Christ")
Nick Cassavetes, actor
Nikola Tesla, physicist and inventor
Nicholas of Cusa, 15th-century clergyman and scholar
Nick Carter, singer (The Backstreet Boys)
Nicolae Ceaucescu, Romanian dictator- Nicholas in song, story & screen: | Edit
St. Nicholas, aka Santa Claus
"Old Nick," common nickname for the Devil
Nicholas Nickleby (by Charles Dickens)
Nick & Nora, famous and stylish classic movie sleuthing duo ("The Thin Man," et al.)
Nicholas Bradford (Eight is Enough)
Nick Carraway (narrator of "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald)
Nicolae Carpathia, antagonist of the "Left Behind" series
Nick Carter, fictional detective (various pulp novels, radio series)
Nick Knight, fictional vampire/policeman ("Forever Knight")
Nicola Toscani, martial-arts wielding policeman ("Above the Law")
Nick of "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" surely named after Nick & Nora, famous and stylish classic movie sleuthing duo ("The Thin Man," et al.)
NameVoyager US Popularity of Nicholas Over Time
NameMapper Current Popularity of Nicholas by State
Global Popularity of the Name Nicholas
- #11 in Canada (Ontario)
- #25 in Australia (New South Wales)
- #28 in Canada (British Columbia)
- #29 in Australia (Victoria)
- #29 in United States
- #33 in Canada (Alberta)
- #133 in Canada (Quebec)
- #143 in Norway
- #145 in Scotland
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