UK boy's name
Niklaus
A masculine German 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.
Niklaus is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Niklaus popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2671, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 12 births.
This profile covers 87 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 2014 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 87 living people in the UK are called Niklaus. 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
- • Niklaus ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 12 boys were registered as Niklaus.
- • About 87 living people in the UK are estimated to have Niklaus as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2671
2024
Births in 2024
8
Latest year
Peak year
2021
12 births
Estimated living
87
2026
Meaning
What does Niklaus mean?
The name Niklaus has its origins in the Greek language and culture. It is derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, which is a combination of the words "nikos" meaning "victory" and "laos" meaning "people." The name Nikolaos was popularized by St. Nicholas, the 4th-century Christian saint who was the inspiration for the modern-day Santa Claus.
In the early Christian era, the name Nikolaos spread throughout Europe and was adapted into various languages and cultures. The Germanic form of the name, Niklaus, emerged in regions such as Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It became a popular name among the Germanic peoples, particularly in the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Niklaus can be found in the historical records of the Holy Roman Empire. Niklaus von Flüe, also known as Brother Klaus (1417-1487), was a Swiss hermit and mystic who is revered as a national hero in Switzerland. He played a significant role in maintaining the unity of the Swiss Confederacy during the 15th century.
Another notable historical figure with the name Niklaus was Niklaus Manuel Deutsch (1484-1530), a Swiss painter, poet, and writer who was a prominent figure in the Protestant Reformation. His satirical plays and woodcuts criticized the Catholic Church and played a role in the spread of Protestant ideas.
In the realm of science, Niklaus Wirth (1934-2022) was a Swiss computer scientist and pioneer in the field of programming languages. He is best known for developing the programming languages Pascal, Modula-2, and Oberon, which have had a lasting impact on computer science education and software development.
Niklaus Mikaelson is a fictional character from the popular TV series "The Vampire Diaries" and its spin-off "The Originals." He is one of the first vampires in existence and is known for his cunning, power, and complex relationships within the Mikaelson family.
In the world of literature, Niklaus Lenau (1802-1850) was an Austrian poet and writer who is considered one of the most significant lyric poets of the Biedermeier period. His works, such as "Schilflieder" and "Faust," explore themes of nature, love, and the human condition.
These are just a few examples of notable historical figures who bore the name Niklaus. While the name has its roots in Greek and Christian traditions, it has been embraced and adapted by various cultures throughout history, particularly in Germanic regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Niklaus over time
The chart below shows babies named Niklaus registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2014 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 Niklaus, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Niklaus by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Niklaus 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 | #2192 | 50 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3125 | 37 | 6 |
Related
Names similar to Niklaus
- 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
Niklaus: questions and answers
How popular is the name Niklaus in the UK right now?
In 2024, Niklaus was ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.
When was Niklaus most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 12 babies registered as Niklaus in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Niklaus?
A masculine German name derived from Greek meaning "victory of the people".
How many people are called Niklaus in the UK?
A total of 87 babies have been registered as Niklaus across the 11 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.