UK boy's name
Nicholas
A masculine name of Greek origin meaning "victor of the people".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Nicholas is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Nicholas popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #211, with 236 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 1,385 births.
This profile covers 15,983 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 17% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 20,363 living people in the UK are called Nicholas. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Nicholas ranked #211 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 236 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 1,385 boys were registered as Nicholas.
- • Nicholas ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #191 in 2024.
- • About 20,363 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nicholas as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#211
2024
Births in 2024
236
Latest year
Peak year
1996
1,385 births
Estimated living
20,363
2026
Meaning
What does Nicholas mean?
The given name Nicholas has its origins in the Greek language and culture. It is derived from the Greek words "nikos" meaning "victory" and "laos" meaning "people". The name essentially translates to "victor of the people" or "people's champion".
The name can be traced back to ancient Greek history and was first recorded in the 4th century BC. It is believed to have been given to children in hopes that they would grow up to be brave warriors and leaders who could defend their communities.
One of the earliest known references to the name Nicholas is found in the writings of the Greek historian Plutarch, who mentioned a military commander named Nicholas who fought alongside Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC.
In the early Christian era, the name became particularly popular due to the veneration of Saint Nicholas, the 4th century bishop of Myra (modern-day Turkey) who was known for his generosity and kindness towards children. His legacy as the patron saint of children and gift-giving contributed to the widespread adoption of the name across Europe.
Some notable historical figures with the name Nicholas include:
1. Nicholas of Damascus (c. 64 BC - c. 10 AD), a Greek historian and philosopher. 2. Nicholas of Cusa (1401 - 1464), a German philosopher, mathematician, and Catholic cardinal. 3. Nicholas Copernicus (1473 - 1543), the renowned Polish astronomer who formulated the heliocentric model of the solar system. 4. Nicholas Roerich (1874 - 1947), a Russian painter, philosopher, and writer. 5. Nicholas Winton (1909 - 2015), a British humanitarian who organized the rescue of 669 children from Czechoslovakia during World War II.
Over the centuries, the name Nicholas has been adapted and transliterated into various languages, leading to variations such as Nikolai, Niklas, Nikos, and Nick. It has remained a popular choice for parents across different cultures and religions, often symbolizing strength, leadership, and a spirit of compassion.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nicholas over time
The chart below shows babies named Nicholas registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Nicholas, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 236 births in 2024, compared with 1,385 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nicholas by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nicholas was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #186 | 1,392 | 5 |
| 2010s | #144 | 4,033 | 10 |
| 2000s | #100 | 5,812 | 10 |
| 1990s | #58 | 4,746 | 4 |
Geography
Where Nicholas is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Nicholas. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Nicholas ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #191 in 2024.
Across the UK
Nicholas in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#191 in 2024
51 years of NRS records, 4,340 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#305 in 2024
28 years of NISRA records, 289 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Nicholas
-
Nicholas Bodington
spy; SOE agent
SOE Head of Section (1904–1974)
1904-1974
Related
Names similar to Nicholas
- Noah 72,596
- Nathan 46,860
- Nathaniel 12,151
- Niall 5,746
- Nicolas 3,825
- Nico 3,532
- Nate 2,029
- Nikodem 1,872
- Noel 1,865
- Ned 1,614
- Neo 1,563
- Neil 1,457
FAQ
Nicholas: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nicholas in the UK right now?
In 2024, Nicholas was ranked #211 for boys in England and Wales, with 236 births registered.
When was Nicholas most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 1,385 babies registered as Nicholas in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nicholas?
A masculine name of Greek origin meaning "victor of the people".
How many people are called Nicholas in the UK?
A total of 15,983 babies have been registered as Nicholas across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 4,340 more in Scotland and 289 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Nicholas most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Nicholas ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #191 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.