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Gender: M Meaning of Nicholas: "people of victory" Origin of Nicholas: Greek Nicholas's Popularity in 2015: #62

Nicholas, though it has lost some ground (it was in the Top 10 from 1993 to 2002), is still a popular classic that would make an attractive, solid choice. A Greek name stemming from Nike, the goddess of victory, it is a New Testament name also well used in literature (as in Dickens's Nicholas Nickleby).

And then there's St. Nicholas who, in addition to bringing bags of toys once a year, is also the patron saint of schoolchildren, mechanics, sailors, scholars, brides, bakers, travelers, and Russia, where the name was a star of the czarist dynasty.

Along with this historical depth, Nicholas, and nicknames Nick and Nicky, project an aura of masculine panache, and has long been a favorite of writers for rich boys, Romeos, thugs and detective characters.

Offshoots Cole and Colin have long had lives of their own.

Famous People Named Nicholas

Saint Nicholas, 4th-century Greek Bishop of Myra
Nicholas IV, Franciscan Pope
Nicholas I and II, Emperors of Russia
Nicholas I, King of Montenegro
Nicholas of Cusa, German philosopher, theologian, jurist, and astronomer
Fr. Nicholas Nightingale Gruner, Canadian priest
Nicholas Charles Sparks, American novelist
Nicholas Jerry "Nick" Jonas, American musician
Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg, Deputy British Prime Minister
Nicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake, English singer-songwriter
Nicholas King "Nick" Nolte, American actor
Nicholas Joseph "Nick" Braun, American actor
Nicholas Thompson "Nick" Swisher, American baseball player
Nicholas Meyer, American screenwriter
Nicholas Caradoc Hoult, English actor
Nicholas Pegg, British actor, director, and writer
Nicholas Briggs, English actor, writer and director
Nicholas James MacDonald Patrick, British-American astronaut
Nicholas Scott "Nick" Lachey, American singer and TV personality
Nicholas John "Nick" Frost, English actor, comedian, and screenwriter
(Benjamin) Nicholas "Nick" Monroe, American tennis player
Nicholas Peter Andrew "Nick" Grimshaw, English radio DJ
(Christopher) Nicholas Parsons, English radio and TV presenter
Nicholas Heath, Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor
Nicholas "Nick" Valensi, American musician
Nicholas John "Nick" Robinson, American actor
Nicholas Komor, American fashion designer
Nicholas Scott "Nick" Cannon, American actor and TV presenter
Nicholas Edward Gonzalez, American actor
Nicholas Brendan (Schultz) American actor
Nicholas James "Nick" Adenhart, American baseball player
Nicholas "Nicky" McDonald, Scottish singer
Nicholas Aaron "Nick" Young, American basketballer
Nicholas Louis "Nick" Noonan, American musician
Nicholas Hugh "Nick" Brown, British Member of Parliament
Nicholas Fred "Nick" DeCarbo, American NFL player
Nicholas Allen "Nick" Masset, American baseball player
Nicholas Tatambuka, birth name of Nick Nola, Ugandan singer
Nicholas George "Nick" Roman, American NFL player
Nicholas J "Nick" Kroll, American actor and comedian

Pop Culture References for the name Nicholas

Nicholas Nickleby, Dickens novel and its main character
Old St. Nicholas, another name for Santa Claus
Nicholas Benedict, character in "Mysterious Benedict Society" series
Nicholas Banks, Will's baby cousin on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Nicholas "Nick" Charles, detective in Dashiell Hammett's "The Thin Man" novels and film series
Nicholas "Nick" Amaro, Detective on Law & Order SVU
Nicholas Brody, character on Showtime's "Homeland"
Nicholas "Nick" Wilde, lead (fox) character in the movie "Zootopia"
Nicholas D. Wolfwood, character from the anime "Trigun".