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
- Peak · boys
- 1999 · 25,639 births
- Debut · boys
- 73 births
- In top 100 · boys
- 51 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · boys
- 926,047since 1880
Nicholas over time
boys
Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.
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
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #10,917 | 8 | #112 | 3,115 |
| 2024 | — | #117 | 3,038 | |
| 2023 | — | #109 | 3,261 | |
| 2022 | #13,592 | 6 | #97 | 3,643 |
| 2021 | — | #92 | 3,866 | |
| 2020 | #15,088 | 5 | #87 | 4,065 |
| 2019 | #11,356 | 8 | #78 | 4,642 |
| 2018 | — | #74 | 4,847 | |
| 2017 | #14,124 | 6 | #68 | 5,372 |
| 2016 | #14,331 | 6 | #63 | 5,765 |
| 2015 | #13,006 | 7 | #62 | 6,263 |
| 2014 | #8,966 | 12 | #57 | 6,779 |
| 2013 | #8,580 | 13 | #54 | 7,147 |
| 2012 | #12,199 | 8 | #49 | 7,742 |
| 2011 | #7,783 | 15 | #42 | 8,601 |
| 2010 | #9,790 | 11 | #37 | 9,653 |
| 2009 | #7,066 | 18 | #32 | 10,856 |
| 2008 | #6,350 | 21 | #29 | 12,533 |
| 2007 | #8,520 | 14 | #20 | 14,362 |
| 2006 | #7,482 | 16 | #17 | 15,675 |
| 2005 | #5,266 | 24 | #15 | 17,076 |
| 2004 | #2,370 | 72 | #13 | 18,519 |
| 2003 | #3,291 | 44 | #12 | 19,696 |
| 2002 | #3,461 | 39 | #9 | 21,390 |
| 2001 | #3,703 | 35 | #6 | 22,849 |
| 2000 | #3,404 | 39 | #6 | 24,653 |
| 1999 | #3,245 | 39 | #5 | 25,639 |
| 1998 | #3,222 | 38 | #6 | 26,632 |
| 1997 | #2,511 | 51 | #6 | 27,258 |
| 1996 | #2,451 | 52 | #6 | 27,724 |
| 1995 | #2,345 | 56 | #7 | 29,160 |
| 1994 | #2,079 | 66 | #9 | 27,770 |
| 1993 | #1,653 | 91 | #8 | 28,114 |
| 1992 | #1,798 | 80 | #12 | 27,762 |
| 1991 | #1,766 | 81 | #12 | 27,357 |
| 1990 | #1,974 | 69 | #14 | 27,913 |
| 1989 | #1,288 | 122 | #14 | 28,230 |
| 1988 | #1,132 | 135 | #14 | 25,303 |
| 1987 | #983 | 160 | #16 | 23,247 |
| 1986 | #1,097 | 135 | #17 | 22,800 |
| 1985 | #957 | 162 | #19 | 22,384 |
| 1984 | #988 | 146 | #20 | 21,017 |
| 1983 | #1,037 | 135 | #21 | 19,891 |
| 1982 | #1,058 | 136 | #22 | 19,643 |
| 1981 | #1,114 | 124 | #21 | 19,775 |
| 1980 | #1,030 | 139 | #17 | 21,018 |
| 1979 | #1,012 | 140 | #15 | 21,344 |
| 1978 | #1,169 | 108 | #25 | 16,342 |
| 1977 | #2,515 | 34 | #51 | 6,071 |
| 1976 | #3,407 | 20 | #77 | 3,466 |
| 1975 | #2,969 | 24 | #81 | 3,319 |
| 1974 | #3,212 | 21 | #80 | 3,218 |
| 1973 | #3,787 | 16 | #85 | 3,153 |
| 1972 | #3,714 | 16 | #99 | 2,843 |
| 1971 | #3,062 | 22 | #123 | 2,608 |
| 1970 | #6,362 | 7 | #123 | 2,704 |
| 1969 | #5,456 | 8 | #123 | 2,577 |
| 1968 | #3,315 | 16 | #118 | 2,548 |
| 1967 | #3,845 | 12 | #130 | 2,288 |
| 1966 | #5,273 | 7 | #139 | 2,139 |
| 1965 | #5,289 | 7 | #149 | 2,068 |
| 1964 | — | #158 | 2,069 | |
| 1963 | #4,272 | 10 | #155 | 2,130 |
| 1962 | — | #155 | 2,144 | |
| 1961 | #4,882 | 8 | #158 | 2,078 |
| 1960 | — | #153 | 2,298 | |
| 1959 | #5,566 | 6 | #156 | 2,196 |
| 1958 | #4,193 | 9 | #153 | 2,189 |
| 1957 | #4,918 | 7 | #152 | 2,197 |
| 1956 | #5,325 | 6 | #147 | 2,212 |
| 1955 | #4,376 | 8 | #141 | 2,186 |
| 1954 | #3,490 | 11 | #134 | 2,368 |
| 1953 | #5,673 | 5 | #131 | 2,359 |
| 1952 | — | #127 | 2,343 | |
| 1951 | — | #120 | 2,388 | |
| 1950 | — | #124 | 2,176 | |
| 1949 | #5,244 | 5 | #136 | 1,998 |
| 1948 | #5,243 | 5 | #142 | 1,929 |
| 1947 | — | #143 | 1,935 | |
| 1946 | — | #144 | 1,675 | |
| 1945 | #4,025 | 6 | #151 | 1,357 |
| 1944 | — | #150 | 1,361 | |
| 1943 | #4,196 | 6 | #148 | 1,434 |
| 1942 | — | #142 | 1,500 | |
| 1941 | #3,954 | 6 | #146 | 1,212 |
| 1940 | — | #154 | 1,102 | |
| 1939 | — | #156 | 1,032 | |
| 1938 | #4,342 | 5 | #161 | 989 |
| 1937 | — | #159 | 935 | |
| 1936 | — | #157 | 929 | |
| 1935 | — | #158 | 911 | |
| 1934 | — | #165 | 873 | |
| 1933 | #3,406 | 7 | #160 | 888 |
| 1932 | #3,901 | 6 | #163 | 925 |
| 1931 | #3,226 | 8 | #145 | 1,103 |
| 1930 | #2,306 | 14 | #147 | 1,131 |
| 1929 | #2,437 | 13 | #142 | 1,192 |
| 1928 | #3,743 | 7 | #140 | 1,216 |
| 1927 | #2,699 | 12 | #137 | 1,272 |
| 1926 | #2,257 | 16 | #133 | 1,319 |
| 1925 | #4,028 | 7 | #133 | 1,332 |
| 1924 | #2,661 | 13 | #122 | 1,488 |
| 1923 | #4,967 | 5 | #120 | 1,468 |
| 1922 | #4,011 | 7 | #122 | 1,414 |
| 1921 | #4,464 | 6 | #114 | 1,553 |
| 1920 | #4,398 | 6 | #124 | 1,354 |
| 1919 | #3,817 | 7 | #122 | 1,321 |
| 1918 | — | #113 | 1,488 | |
| 1917 | #4,083 | 6 | #109 | 1,412 |
| 1916 | #3,552 | 7 | #107 | 1,419 |
| 1915 | — | #104 | 1,427 | |
| 1914 | — | #102 | 1,151 | |
| 1913 | — | #110 | 796 | |
| 1912 | — | #113 | 676 | |
| 1911 | — | #120 | 308 | |
| 1910 | — | #137 | 235 | |
| 1909 | — | #133 | 204 | |
| 1908 | — | #113 | 226 | |
| 1907 | — | #143 | 161 | |
| 1906 | — | #143 | 144 | |
| 1905 | — | #171 | 112 | |
| 1904 | — | #177 | 102 | |
| 1903 | — | #184 | 90 | |
| 1902 | — | #156 | 112 | |
| 1901 | — | #168 | 88 | |
| 1900 | — | #199 | 95 | |
| 1899 | — | #196 | 69 | |
| 1898 | — | #172 | 94 | |
| 1897 | — | #177 | 87 | |
| 1896 | — | #156 | 106 | |
| 1895 | — | #187 | 84 | |
| 1894 | — | #192 | 77 | |
| 1893 | — | #162 | 89 | |
| 1892 | — | #166 | 95 | |
| 1891 | — | #164 | 78 | |
| 1890 | — | #175 | 78 | |
| 1889 | — | #191 | 68 | |
| 1888 | — | #157 | 97 | |
| 1887 | — | #157 | 79 | |
| 1886 | — | #162 | 85 | |
| 1885 | — | #195 | 66 | |
| 1884 | — | #193 | 69 | |
| 1883 | — | #174 | 71 | |
| 1882 | — | #193 | 66 | |
| 1881 | — | #203 | 56 | |
| 1880 | — | #177 | 73 | |
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 1981
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
Top states · boys
- Minnesota#7 · 1 in 43
- Maine#9 · 1 in 46
- Iowa#9 · 1 in 47
- Nebraska#11 · 1 in 50
- Wisconsin#12 · 1 in 49
Best ever in a state: #1 in Maine, 1992.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | #7 | 772 | 1 in 43 |
| Iowa | #9 | 467 | 1 in 47 |
| Maine | #9 | 153 | 1 in 46 |
| Nebraska | #11 | 248 | 1 in 50 |
| Wisconsin | #12 | 704 | 1 in 49 |
| Alaska | #13 | 69 | 1 in 58 |
| Illinois | #14 | 1,248 | 1 in 68 |
| Oregon | #15 | 335 | 1 in 60 |
| Michigan | #16 | 1,033 | 1 in 64 |
| Ohio | #16 | 1,270 | 1 in 63 |
| Washington | #16 | 491 | 1 in 65 |
| Wyoming | #16 | 63 | 1 in 64 |
| Colorado | #17 | 320 | 1 in 74 |
| New Hampshire | #17 | 116 | 1 in 53 |
| South Dakota | #17 | 92 | 1 in 59 |
| Massachusetts | #18 | 565 | 1 in 63 |
| Utah | #18 | 243 | 1 in 78 |
| Nevada | #19 | 76 | 1 in 75 |
| Vermont | #19 | 54 | 1 in 59 |
| California | #20 | 2,055 | 1 in 98 |
| Indiana | #20 | 544 | 1 in 74 |
| Rhode Island | #20 | 89 | 1 in 64 |
| Idaho | #21 | 114 | 1 in 72 |
| Montana | #21 | 83 | 1 in 70 |
| Hawaii | #22 | 70 | 1 in 97 |
| Kansas | #22 | 224 | 1 in 81 |
| Missouri | #22 | 494 | 1 in 74 |
| New York | #22 | 1,269 | 1 in 89 |
| Arkansas | #23 | 156 | 1 in 98 |
| Florida | #23 | 590 | 1 in 107 |
| Kentucky | #23 | 291 | 1 in 93 |
| Louisiana | #23 | 330 | 1 in 111 |
| New Jersey | #23 | 479 | 1 in 89 |
| North Dakota | #24 | 79 | 1 in 74 |
| Arizona | #25 | 230 | 1 in 101 |
| Maryland | #25 | 268 | 1 in 90 |
| Oklahoma | #25 | 225 | 1 in 105 |
| Pennsylvania | #25 | 899 | 1 in 86 |
| Connecticut | #26 | 206 | 1 in 87 |
| Delaware | #29 | 43 | 1 in 88 |
| Georgia | #29 | 337 | 1 in 119 |
| New Mexico | #29 | 95 | 1 in 117 |
| Alabama | #30 | 186 | 1 in 142 |
| Tennessee | #31 | 264 | 1 in 123 |
| North Carolina | #32 | 291 | 1 in 130 |
| South Carolina | #33 | 145 | 1 in 146 |
| Virginia | #33 | 285 | 1 in 121 |
| District of Columbia | #34 | 64 | 1 in 124 |
| Texas | #34 | 827 | 1 in 167 |
| Mississippi | #35 | 124 | 1 in 155 |
| West Virginia | #35 | 100 | 1 in 129 |
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
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 730 | #157 (1888) | #180 |
| 1890s | 857 | #156 (1896) | #175 |
| 1900s | 1,334 | #113 (1908) | #159 |
| 1910s | 10,233 | #102 (1914) | #114 |
| 1920s | 13,608 | #114 (1921) | #129 |
| 1930s | 9,716 | #145 (1931) | #157 |
| 1940s | 15,503 | #136 (1949) | #146 |
| 1950s | 22,614 | #120 (1951) | #139 |
| 1960s | 22,339 | #118 (1968) | #144 |
| 1970s | 65,068 | #15 (1979) | #76 |
| 1980s | 223,308 | #14 (1989) | #18 |
| 1990s | 275,329 | #5 (1999) | #9 |
| 2000s | 177,609 | #6 (2000) | #16 |
| 2010s | 66,811 | #37 (2010) | #58 |
| 2020s | 20,988 | #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 1981
girls
#1,114
124 births · 1 in 13,452 girls
boys
#21
19,775 births · 1 in 91 boys
Top girls' names in 1981
Top boys' names in 1981
More about 1981
girls
1,668,060 girls got a published name in 1981; 1 in 13,452 of them was named Nicholas, which outranked 90.9% of the 12,198 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Ranked beside Nicholas
- #1,109Roseann125
- #1,109Samara125
- #1,109Sharita125
- #1,114Nicholas124
- #1,114Angelic124
- #1,114Ayanna124
- #1,114Bonita124
- #1,122Amberly123
- #1,122Ava123
- #1,122Denisha123
Tied with 7 names at #1,114; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Biggest movers since 1980
Risers
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,791,177 boys got a published name in 1981; 1 in 91 of them was named Nicholas, which outranked 99.7% of the 7,289 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Ranked beside Nicholas
Biggest movers since 1980
Risers
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.