UK boy's name
Nikko
From Japanese roots meaning "sunlight" and "tree", suggestive of bright beauty.
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.
Nikko is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Nikko popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 5 births.
This profile covers 27 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2011 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 27 living people in the UK are called Nikko. 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
- • Nikko ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 5 boys were registered as Nikko.
- • About 27 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nikko as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2014
5 births
Estimated living
27
2026
Meaning
What does Nikko mean?
The name Nikko is believed to have originated from Japan, derived from the Japanese word "nikko," which means "sunlight" or "sunshine." This name has been in use in Japan for centuries, often associated with the beautiful city of Nikko in the Tochigi Prefecture, known for its stunning shrines and temples.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nikko dates back to the 12th century, when a Buddhist monk named Nikko Shonin (1118-1193) founded the Nikko Toshogu Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate.
In Japanese literature, the name Nikko appears in several historical texts and records. For instance, the "Nikko Mandara," a 16th-century painting depicting the city of Nikko, is a significant artistic representation of the name.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Nikko. One such individual was Nikko Niwano (1899-1999), a renowned Japanese Buddhist philosopher and the founder of the Rissho Kosei-kai, a lay Buddhist organization. Another prominent figure was Nikko Hoshi (1910-2002), a Japanese actor and director known for his work in Kabuki theater.
In the realm of sports, Nikko Jenkins (1991-present) is an American professional basketball player who has played in various leagues around the world, including the NBA G League and international teams in Japan and Australia.
Additionally, the name Nikko has been associated with various artistic and cultural endeavors. Nikko Munoz (1964-present) is an American painter and sculptor known for his vibrant and colorful works, while Nikko Hurtado (1979-present) is a renowned American tattoo artist renowned for his detailed and intricate designs.
It is worth noting that while the name Nikko is primarily associated with Japan, it has gained popularity in other parts of the world as well, often used as a unisex name or as a variant of the name Nicholas or Nicole in certain cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nikko over time
The chart below shows babies named Nikko registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2011 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 Nikko, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nikko by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nikko 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 | #4966 | 9 | 3 |
| 2010s | #4301 | 18 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Nikko
- 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
Nikko: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nikko in the UK right now?
In 2024, Nikko was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Nikko most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 5 babies registered as Nikko in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nikko?
From Japanese roots meaning "sunlight" and "tree", suggestive of bright beauty.
How many people are called Nikko in the UK?
A total of 27 babies have been registered as Nikko across the 8 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.