nicholas

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Origin, Meaning, And History Of Nicholas

The name Nicholas is of Greek and Latin descent. It translates the Greek name Nikolaos into Latin as Nicolaus, a compound word made of nikē, meaning victory, and Laos meaning people. Thus, the name’s meaning translates as the victory of the people.

Additionally, Laos is a word of Greek origin that means stone or a rock. Figures in Greek mythology, such as Deucalion and Pyrrha, are said to recreate people who disappeared in a  destructive deluge. They threw stones behind their shoulders as they traveled.

In the medieval period, the name Nicholas, in various vernacular variants, became popular among Christians throughout Europe. The name Nicholas became popular due to its association with Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century Christian saint known for his generosity and gift-giving, who later evolved into the modern figure of Santa Claus. The name has been used in various cultures and languages and was also the name of several kings and popes throughout history.

Many different variations of this name exist. In Albanian, it is Niklaus, Nikola in Basque, Niko in Croatian, and Nicilaas in Dutch. The name is Nigulas in Estonian, Nicolas in French, and Nicholaus in German. Nikolay is a Slavic variation found in Russia and other Slavic countries.

The name Nicholas frequently appears as a fictional character in various forms of media. Charles Dickens’s The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby features Nicholas Nickleby as the primary character, while Marvel comics include Nicholas Joseph or Nick Fury. In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Nicholas Flamel, a French wizard, is credited with creating the stone. Additionally, several TV shows feature characters named Nicholas, such as Nicholas ‘Nick’ Burkhardt, the protagonist of Grimm; Nicholas ‘Nick’ Charles, the detective in The Thin Man novel and movie series; and Nicholas Wild, the lead character in the Zootopia movie.

Nicholas

Meaning The conqueror of the nation.

Gender Boy

Religion Greek,Judaism

Origin Greek

Names starting with  n..  na..  nag..  Nag..  Nak..  Nic.. 

How To Pronounce Nicholas?

Nicholas On The Popularity Chart

To understand more about how the popularity and ranking of this name evolved over the past decades, check out the graphic representation shared below.

Popularity Over Time

Nicholas continued to remain a popular name until 2003, after which it saw a sharp decline in popularity. Have a look at the graph for further insights.

Rank Over Time

The 1980s saw a surge in popularity for the name Nicholas. It has, however, recently fallen in ranking behind other well-known names. Check out the graphs here.

Names With Similar Sound As Nicholas

Does the sound of Nicholas seem interesting to you, but do you want to explore more such names? Here are some options.

Naishal Nashal Neeshal Neeshlin Nehchalbir Nichlas Nicholai Nicholaus Nichols Nicholson

Names With Similar Meaning As Nicholas

Looking for names with a victorious meaning but want to explore other options? Check out the list shared below.

Nagulesh Nakulesh Nichlas Nicholaus Nichols Nicklas Nicklaus Nickolas Nickolaus Niclas

Name Numerology For Nicholas

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• Author

Praggya JoshiMA, BEd

Praggya Joshi holds a bachelor's degree in Education and a master's in Ancient Indian History from University of Delhi. She has a robust knowledge of literature, society, and ethics. Praggya has been a content writer since 2021, researching and writing on education, health and wellness, and travel. At MomJunction, she writes on child education and developmental activities. She likes to...more