UK name, mostly girls
Niki
Feminine diminutive form of the Greek name Nikolaos 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.
Niki is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Niki popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 12 births.
This profile covers 168 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 25% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 199 living people in the UK are called Niki. 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
- • Niki ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 12 girls were registered as Niki.
- • Niki ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #621 in 1999.
- • About 199 living people in the UK are estimated to have Niki as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 96.0% of Niki registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2009
12 births
Estimated living
199
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Niki
In England and Wales birth records, Niki has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 4.0% of registrations are for boys and 96.0% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Niki registered for boys
- Ranked #2,859 in 1997
- 3 boys registered in 1997
- Peak: 1996 (4 births)
Niki registered for girls
- Ranked #5,891 in 2024
- 3 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2009 (12 births)
Meaning
What does Niki mean?
The name Niki has its origins in the Greek language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Greek word "nikē," meaning "victory" or "conquest." The name was initially bestowed upon children, particularly boys, as a symbol of strength, triumph, and success.
In ancient Greek mythology, Nike was the winged goddess of victory, often depicted alongside Zeus, the king of the gods. Her name was invoked in prayers and celebrations of military victories and athletic triumphs, reflecting the Greeks' reverence for excellence and achievement.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Niki can be found in the writings of the Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BCE. He mentioned a Spartan warrior named Niki who fought valiantly in the Greco-Persian Wars.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Niki. One of the most famous was Niki de Saint Phalle (1930-2002), a French-American artist renowned for her larger-than-life sculptural works and her contributions to the Nouveau Réalisme movement.
Another prominent figure was Niki Lauda (1949-2019), an Austrian Formula One racing driver and aviation entrepreneur. He was a three-time F1 World Drivers' Champion and is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the sport's history.
In the world of sports, Niki Terpstra (born 1984) is a Dutch professional cyclist who won the prestigious Tour of Flanders in 2018 and the Paris-Roubaix in 2014.
Niki de Gunzburg (1904-1976) was a French socialite and fashion icon known for her influential style and her connections within the Parisian high society of the mid-20th century.
Niki Caro (born 1967) is a New Zealand film director and screenwriter, best known for directing the critically acclaimed films "Whale Rider" (2002) and "Mulan" (2020), the live-action remake of the Disney animated classic.
The name Niki has endured through the centuries, carrying with it the connotations of victory, strength, and triumph that were so valued in ancient Greek culture. Its rich history and evocative meaning have made it a popular choice for parents seeking a name with a strong and inspiring legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Niki over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Niki in England and Wales, 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 Niki, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Niki by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Niki 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 | #3947 | 28 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3835 | 58 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3150 | 58 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2459 | 24 | 4 |
Geography
Where Niki is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Niki. 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.
Niki ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #621 in 1999.
Across the UK
Niki in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#621 in 1999
8 years of NRS records, 32 total registered
Related
Names similar to Niki
- 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
Niki: questions and answers
How popular is the name Niki in the UK right now?
In 2024, Niki was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Niki most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 12 babies registered as Niki in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Niki?
Feminine diminutive form of the Greek name Nikolaos meaning "victory of the people".
How many people are called Niki in the UK?
A total of 168 babies have been registered as Niki across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 32 more in Scotland.
Where is Niki most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Niki ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #621 in 1999. 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.