NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Nicholl

A masculine name derived from the surname Nicholl, an Anglicized form of Niall.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1996. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Nicholl is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nicholl popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1996 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3795, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 3 births.

This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1996 to 1996. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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.

Nicholl is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Nicholl. 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 1997 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Nicholl ranked #3795 for girls in England and Wales in 1996, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 3 girls were registered as Nicholl.
  • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nicholl as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3795

1996

Births in 1996

3

Latest year

Peak year

1996

3 births

Estimated living

3

2026

Meaning

What does Nicholl mean?

The name Nicholl is derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, which itself comes from the combination of the words "niko" meaning "victor" and "laos" meaning "people". The name Nikolaos was later Latinized to Nicholaus and then evolved into various forms across different cultures and languages.

In the English-speaking world, the name Nicholl emerged as a variant spelling of the more common Nicholas. It is believed to have originated in Scotland and Ireland, where it was likely influenced by the Gaelic language and naming traditions. The earliest recorded instances of the name Nicholl can be traced back to the 16th century in these regions.

One of the earliest known individuals with the name Nicholl was Sir Francis Nicholl, an English judge and politician who lived from 1599 to 1673. He served as a Member of Parliament and was appointed as a judge of the King's Bench during the reign of Charles II.

Another notable figure with the name Nicholl was John Nicholl, an English clergyman and academic who lived from 1759 to 1838. He was the Regius Professor of Hebrew at Oxford University and published several works on biblical studies and theology.

In the 19th century, Nicholl Philips was a Welsh businessman and industrialist who played a significant role in the development of the coal and iron industries in South Wales. He lived from 1792 to 1872 and was instrumental in establishing the town of Tredegar.

Moving into the 20th century, George Nicholl was a British artist and illustrator known for his book illustrations and magazine covers. He lived from 1890 to 1939 and contributed artwork to publications such as Punch and The Strand Magazine.

Finally, Desmond Nicholl was a British lawyer and judge who served as a Lord Justice of Appeal from 1971 to 1985. He was born in 1909 and played a crucial role in shaping English law during his time on the bench.

While the name Nicholl has its roots in Greek and was later influenced by Celtic traditions, it has been used across various cultures and time periods, with notable individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in fields such as law, academia, business, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Nicholl by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nicholl 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
1990s #3795 3 1

Related

Names similar to Nicholl

FAQ

Nicholl: questions and answers

How popular is the name Nicholl in the UK right now?

In 1996, Nicholl was ranked #3795 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Nicholl most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 3 babies registered as Nicholl in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Nicholl?

A masculine name derived from the surname Nicholl, an Anglicized form of Niall.

How many people are called Nicholl in the UK?

A total of 3 babies have been registered as Nicholl across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

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.