UK boy's name
Nicolai
Masculine given name derived from Greek meaning "victory 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.
Nicolai is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Nicolai popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3254, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 8 births.
This profile covers 85 England and Wales registrations across 19 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 84 living people in the UK are called Nicolai. 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
- • Nicolai ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2019, when 8 boys were registered as Nicolai.
- • About 84 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nicolai as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3254
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
2019
8 births
Estimated living
84
2026
Meaning
What does Nicolai mean?
Nicolai is a masculine given name with Greek origins, derived from the word "Nikolaos" which translates to "victor of the people." The name dates back to ancient Greek times and was later adopted by various cultures and languages.
The name Nicolai gained widespread popularity during the spread of Christianity, as it was borne by St. Nicholas, the 4th-century Christian saint who was the inspiration for the modern-day Santa Claus. St. Nicholas was known for his generosity and became the patron saint of children, sailors, and many other groups.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nicolai can be found in the Byzantine Empire, where it was a common name among the nobility. The name also gained popularity in Russia, where it was often used by the Romanov dynasty.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Nicolai. One of the most famous was Nicolai Copernicus (1473-1543), the Renaissance-era mathematician and astronomer who formulated the heliocentric model of the solar system, which placed the Sun at the center.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908), a Russian composer and a member of the influential group of composers known as "The Five." He is best known for his orchestral works, such as Scheherazade and the Russian Easter Overture.
In the realm of literature, Nicolai Gogol (1809-1852) was a Ukrainian-born Russian novelist and playwright, renowned for his satirical works, including "Dead Souls" and "The Government Inspector."
The name Nicolai also has a significant presence in the world of science. Nicolai Tesla (1856-1943) was a Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer, best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electrical supply system.
Finally, Nicolai Hartmann (1882-1950) was a German philosopher and a prominent figure in the phenomenological movement. He is best known for his work "Ethics," which explored the foundations of moral philosophy.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have borne the name Nicolai throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence across various fields and cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nicolai over time
The chart below shows babies named Nicolai 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 Nicolai, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nicolai by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nicolai 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 | #3892 | 18 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3650 | 39 | 8 |
| 2000s | #3354 | 21 | 5 |
| 1990s | #2650 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Nicolai
- Noah 72,596
- Nathan 46,860
- Nicholas 15,983
- 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
FAQ
Nicolai: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nicolai in the UK right now?
In 2024, Nicolai was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Nicolai most popular?
The peak year on record was 2019, with 8 babies registered as Nicolai in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nicolai?
Masculine given name derived from Greek meaning "victory of the people".
How many people are called Nicolai in the UK?
A total of 85 babies have been registered as Nicolai across the 19 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.