UK girl's name
Nika
Nika is a feminine name of Georgian origin meaning "people's victory".
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.
Nika is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nika popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2771, with 9 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 19 births.
This profile covers 273 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1999 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 47% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 272 living people in the UK are called Nika. 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
- • Nika ranked #2771 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 9 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 19 girls were registered as Nika.
- • About 272 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nika as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2771
2024
Births in 2024
9
Latest year
Peak year
2011
19 births
Estimated living
272
2026
Meaning
What does Nika mean?
The name Nika has its origins in several languages and cultures, with the earliest known use dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Greek word "nike," meaning "victory" or "conqueror," and is associated with the Greek goddess of victory, Nike.
In ancient Greek mythology, Nike was a prominent figure, often depicted as a winged goddess accompanying the gods into battle. The name Nika was likely used as a personal name to honor the goddess and signify strength, triumph, and success.
The name Nika can also be traced back to Sanskrit, where it is derived from the word "nikara," meaning "bright" or "shining." This connection suggests that the name may have been used to represent radiance, beauty, or enlightenment in ancient Indian cultures.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nika can be found in the Rigveda, one of the oldest and most sacred Hindu scriptures, dating back to around 1500 BCE. However, the name's usage and popularity in ancient India remain relatively obscure.
In the Byzantine Empire, the name Nika was associated with a famous chariot racing faction known as the "Nika Riots" in 532 CE. These riots, which started as a dispute between chariot racing fans, escalated into a violent uprising against the emperor Justinian I, leaving a significant mark on the history of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul).
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Nika, including:
1. Nika Gibert (born in 1985), a French actress and model. 2. Nika Naildzhi (born in 1963), a Georgian basketball player and coach. 3. Nika Aleksidze (born in 1951), a Georgian painter and artist. 4. Nika Rurua (born in 1972), a Georgian film director and screenwriter. 5. Nika Kobakhidze (born in 1974), a Georgian politician and former Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia.
The name Nika has maintained its presence across various cultures and eras, carrying with it a rich tapestry of meanings and historical significance, from ancient goddesses to modern-day icons.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nika over time
The chart below shows babies named Nika registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 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 Nika, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 9 births in 2024, compared with 19 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nika by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nika 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 | #2217 | 61 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1933 | 148 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2636 | 60 | 7 |
| 1990s | #3225 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Nika
- Niamh 20,347
- Nicole 19,687
- Natasha 15,578
- Nancy 12,607
- Naomi 12,199
- Natalie 10,885
- Nevaeh 7,869
- Nina 7,285
- Neve 7,180
- Natalia 7,099
- Nadia 6,032
- Nicola 4,927
FAQ
Nika: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nika in the UK right now?
In 2024, Nika was ranked #2771 for girls in England and Wales, with 9 births registered.
When was Nika most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 19 babies registered as Nika in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nika?
Nika is a feminine name of Georgian origin meaning "people's victory".
How many people are called Nika in the UK?
A total of 273 babies have been registered as Nika across the 23 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.