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#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201949peak #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 1949

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Nicholas, so not publishedAKMaine: #176 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 1,394 boysMEVermont: #105 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 647 boysVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Nicholas, so not publishedNHWashington: #127 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 864 boysWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Nicholas, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Nicholas, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: #162 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 1,051 boysNDMinnesota: #179 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 1,747 boysMNIllinois: #108 for boys · 133 births · 1 in 685 boysILWisconsin: #162 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 1,567 boysWIMichigan: #137 for boys · 73 births · 1 in 1,040 boysMINew York: #58 for boys · 519 births · 1 in 288 boysNYMassachusetts: #80 for boys · 77 births · 1 in 613 boysMARhode Island: #102 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 803 boysRIOregon: #168 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,248 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Nicholas, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Nicholas, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Nicholas, so not publishedSDIowa: #129 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 871 boysIAIndiana: #155 for boys · 39 births · 1 in 1,147 boysINOhio: #95 for boys · 142 births · 1 in 643 boysOHPennsylvania: #73 for boys · 252 births · 1 in 430 boysPANew Jersey: #63 for boys · 150 births · 1 in 306 boysNJConnecticut: #59 for boys · 64 births · 1 in 291 boysCTCalifornia: #179 for boys · 88 births · 1 in 1,368 boysCAUtah: fewer than 5 boys named Nicholas, so not publishedUTColorado: #165 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,122 boysCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Nicholas, so not publishedNEMissouri: #162 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 1,337 boysMOKentucky: #218 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 1,896 boysKYWest Virginia: #213 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,919 boysWVVirginia: #336 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 4,603 boysVAMaryland: #111 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 677 boysMDDelaware: #67 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 360 boysDEArizona: fewer than 5 boys named Nicholas, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: #195 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 1,070 boysNMKansas: #189 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,413 boysKSArkansas: fewer than 5 boys named Nicholas, so not publishedARTennessee: #400 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 6,513 boysTNNorth Carolina: #348 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 4,587 boysNCSouth Carolina: #313 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 3,575 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #142 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 937 boysDCOklahoma: #284 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 2,910 boysOKLouisiana: #256 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 2,050 boysLAMississippi: #366 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 4,148 boysMSAlabama: #311 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 3,530 boysALGeorgia: #498 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 8,777 boysGAHawaii: #198 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,223 boysHITexas: #423 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 4,189 boysTXFlorida: #243 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 2,084 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. New York#58 · 1 in 288
  2. Connecticut#59 · 1 in 291
  3. New Jersey#63 · 1 in 306
  4. Delaware#67 · 1 in 360
  5. Pennsylvania#73 · 1 in 430

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
New York#585191 in 288
Connecticut#59641 in 291
New Jersey#631501 in 306
Delaware#6791 in 360
Pennsylvania#732521 in 430
Massachusetts#80771 in 613
Ohio#951421 in 643
Rhode Island#102101 in 803
Vermont#10561 in 647
Illinois#1081331 in 685
Maryland#111351 in 677
Washington#127311 in 864
Iowa#129341 in 871
Michigan#137731 in 1,040
District of Columbia#142131 in 937
Indiana#155391 in 1,147
Missouri#162311 in 1,337
North Dakota#16271 in 1,051
Wisconsin#162251 in 1,567
Colorado#165141 in 1,122
Oregon#168131 in 1,248
Maine#17671 in 1,394
California#179881 in 1,368
Minnesota#179201 in 1,747
Kansas#189141 in 1,413
New Mexico#19591 in 1,070
Hawaii#19851 in 1,223
West Virginia#213131 in 1,919
Kentucky#218191 in 1,896
Florida#243141 in 2,084
Louisiana#256171 in 2,050
Oklahoma#28481 in 2,910
Alabama#311111 in 3,530
South Carolina#31381 in 3,575
Virginia#33681 in 4,603
North Carolina#348111 in 4,587
Mississippi#36671 in 4,148
Tennessee#40061 in 6,513
Texas#423241 in 4,189
Georgia#49851 in 8,777
Alaska———
Arizona———
Arkansas———
Idaho———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Wyoming———

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 1949

girls
#5,244
5 births · 1 in 342,175 girls
boys
#136
1,998 births · 1 in 888 boys

Top girls' names in 1949

  1. #1Linda91,015
  2. #2Mary66,874
  3. #3Patricia46,324
  4. #4Barbara42,600
  5. #5Susan37,709
  6. #6Sandra30,643
  7. #7Nancy29,249
  8. #8Carol26,780
  9. #9Kathleen26,357
  10. #10Sharon25,713
  11. #5,244Nicholas5

Top boys' names in 1949

  1. #1James86,858
  2. #2Robert83,873
  3. #3John81,178
  4. #4William61,506
  5. #5Michael60,047
  6. #6David59,611
  7. #7Richard50,946
  8. #8Thomas45,192
  9. #9Charles40,052
  10. #10Larry31,819
  11. #136Nicholas1,998
More about 1949

girls

1,710,877 girls got a published name in 1949; 1 in 342,175 of them was named Nicholas, which outranked 13.6% of the 6,066 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.7% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Nicholas
  1. #4,673Youlanda6
  2. #4,673Yvonia6
  3. #4,673Zenola6
  4. #5,244Nicholas5
  5. #5,244Abbe5
  6. #5,244Adine5
  7. #5,244Adora5

Tied with 822 names at #5,244; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1948
Risers
  1. ↑ 937Sharman#1,708 → #771
  2. ↑ 665Roseanna#1,422 → #757
  3. ↑ 483Shauna#1,173 → #690
  4. ↑ 293Jacalyn#1,116 → #823
  5. ↑ 267Sanjuana#1,185 → #918
Fallers
  1. ↓ 339Sandie#939 → #1,278
  2. ↓ 296Syble#955 → #1,251
  3. ↓ 272Shirleen#964 → #1,236
  4. ↓ 266Ginny#734 → #1,000
  5. ↓ 260Dina#861 → #1,121

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

boys

1,773,939 boys got a published name in 1949; 1 in 888 of them was named Nicholas, which outranked 96.8% of the 4,205 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.9% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Nicholas
  1. #133Floyd2,021
  2. #134Lonnie2,018
  3. #135Benjamin2,016
  4. #136Nicholas1,998
  5. #137Duane1,997
  6. #138Joel1,987
  7. #139Tony1,985
Biggest movers since 1948
Risers
  1. ↑ 538Lannie#1,107 → #569
  2. ↑ 411Lenwood#1,296 → #885
  3. ↑ 338Robby#1,296 → #958
  4. ↑ 326Ocie#1,323 → #997
  5. ↑ 319Denzil#1,127 → #808
Fallers
  1. ↓ 473Loyal#989 → #1,462
  2. ↓ 446Rich#963 → #1,409
  3. ↓ 395Brock#733 → #1,128
  4. ↓ 376Baron#972 → #1,348
  5. ↓ 333Murry#989 → #1,322

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

See the top 100 for 1949 →