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
- 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
Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.
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 | |
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 1996
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Rhode Island#1 · 1 in 28
- Vermont#1 · 1 in 32
- New Hampshire#2 · 1 in 35
- Minnesota#2 · 1 in 44
- Wisconsin#2 · 1 in 49
Best ever in a state: #1 in Maine, 1992.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | #1 | 200 | 1 in 28 |
| Vermont | #1 | 79 | 1 in 32 |
| Minnesota | #2 | 647 | 1 in 44 |
| New Hampshire | #2 | 179 | 1 in 35 |
| Wisconsin | #2 | 603 | 1 in 49 |
| Connecticut | #3 | 521 | 1 in 37 |
| Maine | #3 | 162 | 1 in 36 |
| Massachusetts | #3 | 1,003 | 1 in 37 |
| Hawaii | #4 | 105 | 1 in 54 |
| Illinois | #4 | 1,476 | 1 in 55 |
| Maryland | #4 | 546 | 1 in 53 |
| Michigan | #4 | 1,248 | 1 in 48 |
| New Jersey | #4 | 1,169 | 1 in 42 |
| New York | #4 | 2,492 | 1 in 48 |
| Pennsylvania | #4 | 1,478 | 1 in 46 |
| Iowa | #5 | 314 | 1 in 53 |
| Ohio | #5 | 1,391 | 1 in 51 |
| North Dakota | #6 | 74 | 1 in 51 |
| Florida | #7 | 1,384 | 1 in 61 |
| Indiana | #7 | 640 | 1 in 59 |
| Washington | #7 | 507 | 1 in 66 |
| Louisiana | #8 | 397 | 1 in 67 |
| Missouri | #8 | 604 | 1 in 57 |
| Oregon | #8 | 294 | 1 in 67 |
| Kansas | #9 | 210 | 1 in 72 |
| Nebraska | #9 | 167 | 1 in 59 |
| Arizona | #10 | 449 | 1 in 75 |
| Colorado | #10 | 375 | 1 in 66 |
| Delaware | #10 | 78 | 1 in 49 |
| Idaho | #11 | 96 | 1 in 76 |
| Nevada | #12 | 160 | 1 in 65 |
| North Carolina | #13 | 655 | 1 in 70 |
| South Dakota | #13 | 57 | 1 in 73 |
| Utah | #13 | 211 | 1 in 90 |
| Virginia | #13 | 591 | 1 in 66 |
| California | #14 | 2,863 | 1 in 89 |
| Georgia | #14 | 641 | 1 in 76 |
| District of Columbia | #15 | 78 | 1 in 64 |
| Oklahoma | #15 | 217 | 1 in 88 |
| Arkansas | #16 | 175 | 1 in 83 |
| Kentucky | #16 | 328 | 1 in 71 |
| Montana | #16 | 55 | 1 in 74 |
| Tennessee | #16 | 435 | 1 in 79 |
| West Virginia | #17 | 131 | 1 in 70 |
| Alabama | #18 | 295 | 1 in 85 |
| Mississippi | #18 | 160 | 1 in 95 |
| South Carolina | #18 | 274 | 1 in 72 |
| Wyoming | #19 | 25 | 1 in 80 |
| New Mexico | #21 | 104 | 1 in 104 |
| Texas | #24 | 1,344 | 1 in 116 |
| Alaska | #26 | 37 | 1 in 96 |
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
- 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)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1999 at #5 (25,639 births)
- Births halved by 2008, 9 yrs later
- Top 10: 10 yrs · run 1993–2002
- Top 100: 51 yrs · run 1972–2022
- Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
- 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
- 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 1996
Top girls' names in 1996
Top boys' names in 1996
More about 1996
girls
1,753,007 girls got a published name in 1996; 1 in 33,712 of them was named Nicholas, which outranked 84.6% of the 15,894 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 11.5% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
- #2,423Tanika53
- #2,423Terry53
- #2,423Unknown53
- #2,451Nicholas52
- #2,451Amberlee52
- #2,451Arica52
- #2,451Austyn52
- #2,476Alani51
- #2,476Alise51
- #2,476Annastasia51
Tied with 24 names at #2,451; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,894,300 boys got a published name in 1996; 1 in 68 of them was named Nicholas, which outranked 99.9% of the 10,536 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 15.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.