Nikolai
Nikolai is a boy name of Russian origin meaning “Victory of the people”, pronounced nik-oh-LY. It ranked #605 in the United States in 2025, given to 469 babies, and peaked at #474 in 2018. Common nicknames: Niko, Kolya, Nik.
How popular is Nikolai in the United States?
Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). Based on all Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
What does Nikolai mean, and where does it come from?
Nikolai is the Russian and Scandinavian form of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos — nike, "victory," and laos, "people." Russia gave the name two tsars and a shelf of writers and composers: Gogol, Rimsky-Korsakov, Lobachevsky, who rebuilt geometry without Euclid's fifth postulate. It is also standard in Denmark and Norway. American records hold it from 1960; it entered the top thousand in 2007 and peaked in 2018. Niko and Kolya are the everyday forms, the second unmistakably Russian.
How is Nikolai used around the world?
Nikolai is used in 3 languages worldwide, with 7+ international variants.
TypeMale given name
Linguistic data: Wikidata (CC0). Variants and language usage may vary by region.
What are the nicknames for Nikolai?
Famous People Named Nikolai
- Nikolai Gogol — Russian-Ukrainian novelist and playwright
- Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov — Russian composer
- Nikolai Lobachevsky — Russian mathematician and pioneer of non-Euclidean geometry
Similar Names to Nikolai
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Sibling Name Ideas for Nikolai
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Nikolai mean?
Nikolai is a boy name of Russian origin meaning "Victory of the people." Nikolai is the Russian and Scandinavian form of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos — nike, "victory," and laos, "people." Russia gave the name two tsars and a shelf of writers and composers: Gogol, Rimsky-Korsakov, Lobachevsky, who rebuilt geometry without Euclid's fifth postulate.
How do you pronounce Nikolai?
Nikolai is pronounced nik-oh-LY. Common variations include Nicolai, Nikolaj, Nicholas.
Is Nikolai a boy name?
Yes, Nikolai is traditionally a boy name. Popular nicknames include Niko, Kolya, Nik.