Greek Boy Names That Mean Victory
Few naming traditions repeat one idea as insistently as Greek boy names that mean victory, and this list is proof, built almost entirely on a single ancient root.
Names81
OriginGreek
MeaningVictory
GenderBoy
Nine of the twelve names here trace back to one Greek phrase: nike, victory, joined with laos, people. That gives you 'victory of the people,' the meaning carried by Saint Nicholas, the fourth-century bishop remembered today as Santa Claus.
That single root spread across Europe in a dozen directions. Nico and Niko are the sleek short form of Nicholas used everywhere from Italy to Chile, while Nick stayed the easy English nickname. Longer cousins like Nikolai, Niklaus, and Nicolas carry the same meaning with a foreign accent.
Why So Many Greek Boy Names That Mean Victory Sound Alike
Nikolas and Nikko show how much room one root leaves for style. The k-spelling gives Nikolas a sleeker look without changing the meaning, while Nikko doubles as a nod to Japan's sunlit city of the same name — a rare case where a Greek victory name and an unrelated word from another language landed on the same sound. Nikolai, worn by Russian tsars and composers, shows the same root read as commanding rather than casual.
Colin, Collin, and Stephen: Victory's Wider Greek Family
Stephen is Greek too, meaning 'crown' — in ancient Greece, victors in battle and at the games were honored with a crown of laurel, so the two ideas sit close together. Colin and Collin take a different path: Colin means 'young creature' in Gaelic but has long been treated as a companion form of Nicholas in English use, and Collin, its variant spelling, is defined as 'young warrior.'
Names List
Nicholas#112 in the U.S.Victory of the people — from Greek Nikolaos, from nike (victory) + laos (people)Pronounced NIK-uh-lus▶Nico#174 in the U.S.Victory of the people; short form of Nicholas (Greek Nikolaos: nike + laos)Pronounced NEE-koh▶Nicolas#177 in the U.S.Victory of the peoplePronounced NIK-uh-lus▶Niko#325 in the U.S.Short form of Nikolaos or Nikola, from the Greek 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people), meaning 'victory oPronounced NEE-koh▶Colin#343 in the U.S.In Scottish Gaelic, Colin is a diminutive of Cailean (young dog, youth, or pup). In English usage it is aPronounced KOL-in▶Stephen#383 in the U.S.From Greek Stephanos meaning crown or garland, the symbol of victory and honor in classical antiquityPronounced STEE-ven▶Collin#493 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Colin; from Scottish Gaelic 'Cailean' meaning young warrior or pup; also used as a diPronounced KOL-in▶Nikolai#605 in the U.S.Russian form of Nicholas, from Greek Nikolaos, composed of nike ('victory') and laos ('people'), meaning Pronounced NIK-oh-ly▶Nikolas#719 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos (Νικόλαος), a compound of nike (victory) and laos (Pronounced NIK-oh-las▶Niklaus#1232 in the U.S.Victory of the people, people's triumphPronounced NIK-lows▶Nikko#1289 in the U.S.Victory of the people; sun and lightPronounced NIK-oh▶Nick#1418 in the U.S.Victory of the peoplePronounced NIK▶Nickolas#1549 in the U.S.Victory of the peoplePronounced NIK-uh-luhs▶Nikola#1594 in the U.S.a Slavic and South Slavic form of Nicholas, from Greek 'Nikolaos', combining 'nike' ('victory') and 'laosPronounced NIK-uh-luh▶Klaus#2405 in the U.S.Victory of the people; German short form of Nikolaus (Greek Nikolaos: nike victory + laos people)Pronounced KLOWSS▶Diamond#2443 in the U.S.The hardest gem; invincible; from Old French diamant, from Medieval Latin diamas/diamintem, from Greek adPronounced DY-mund▶Nikolaos#2772 in the U.S.Victory of the peoplePronounced nee-KOH-la-ohs▶Nicodemus#3360 in the U.S.Victory of the people; from Greek nike, 'victory', and demos, 'people' — the Pharisee who came to Jesus bPronounced nik-ə-DEE-məs▶Nicola#3361 in the U.S.Italian masculine form of Nicholas, from Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people'Pronounced NEE-koh-lah▶Nikita#3430 in the U.S.Russian masculine name from Greek Aniketos, 'unconquered, unconquerable'Pronounced ni-KEE-tah▶Nikolaus#3742 in the U.S.German form of Nicholas — Greek Nikolaos, nike, 'victory', plus laos, 'people'Pronounced NIK-oh-lowss▶Kollin#4017 in the U.S.K-spelling of Collin/Colin — Irish cuilein, 'young pup/cub', or a form of Nicholas, 'victory of the peoplPronounced KOL-in▶Nicco#4029 in the U.S.Double-c spelling of Nico — short form of Nicholas/Niccolò, Greek 'victory of the people'Pronounced NEE-koh▶Colsyn#4437 in the U.S.Modern coinage echoing Colson/Colton (a Col-/Nicholas sound, 'victory of the people') with a -syn stylingPronounced KOL-sin▶Neiko#4976 in the U.S.Spelling of Niko/Neiko — a short form of Nicholas, from Greek, 'victory of the people'; routes layeredPronounced NAY-koh▶Nicklaus#4978 in the U.S.Spelling of Nicholas/Niklaus — from Greek nike, 'victory', plus laos, 'people' — 'victory of the people'Pronounced NIK-ləs▶Nils#4979 in the U.S.Scandinavian short form of Nicholas/Nikolas — from Greek, 'victory of the people'Pronounced NILSS▶Neeko#5170 in the U.S.-ee- spelling of Niko/Nico — a short form of Nicholas/Nikolas, from Greek, 'victory of the people'Pronounced NEE-koh▶Nikolay#5172 in the U.S.Russian form of Nicholas — from Greek nike, 'victory', plus laos, 'people' — 'victory of the people'Pronounced nih-koh-LY▶Bernis#5175 in the U.S.Bernis is a rare early-American name, here given to boys. It most likely reflects a masculine use or respPronounced BUR-nis▶Nels#5366 in the U.S.Scandinavian short form of Nils (Nicholas) — from Greek, 'victory of the people'; also a short form of NePronounced NELZ▶Nicky#5367 in the U.S.-y pet form of Nick/Nicholas — from Greek, 'victory of the people' (nike, 'victory', plus laos, 'people')Pronounced NIK-ee▶Nikodem#5368 in the U.S.Polish form of Nicodemus — from Greek nike, 'victory', plus demos, 'people' — 'victory of the people'Pronounced nee-KOH-dem▶Nyko#5372 in the U.S.Ny-spelling of Niko/Nico — a short form of Nicholas/Nikolas, from Greek, 'victory of the people'Pronounced NEE-koh▶Nicholai#5579 in the U.S.A spelling of Nikolai — from Greek Nikolaos, 'the victory of the people' (nike, 'victory', plus laos, 'pePronounced nik-ə-LY▶Kolin#5773 in the U.S.A K-spelling of Colin — variously from Irish cailín-linked 'a young pup/whelp' and a pet of Nicholas ('thPronounced KAH-lin▶Nieko#5805 in the U.S.An -ie- spelling of Niko/Nico — a short form of Nikolaos (Nicholas), from Greek, 'the people's victory' (Pronounced nee-EH-koh▶Nikos#6352 in the U.S.A Greek pet form of Nikolaos (Nicholas) — from Greek nike, 'victory', plus laos, 'the people'; 'victory oPronounced NEE-kos▶Nilson#6353 in the U.S.From the Scandinavian surname Nilson — 'a son of Nils' (Nils being the Nordic Nicholas, 'victory of the pPronounced NIL-sən▶Niels#6694 in the U.S.A Danish form of Nicholas — from Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people' (nike, 'victory', plus laos, 'thPronounced NEELS▶Burnice#6863 in the U.S.Burnice is best read either as a masculine use of Bernice, from Greek Berenike, 'bringer of victory', or Pronounced BUR-nis▶Nickson#7103 in the U.S.A spelling of Nixon — from an English surname, 'son of Nick/Nicholas' (Nicholas, 'victory of the people',Pronounced NIK-sun▶Nikoli#7105 in the U.S.A spelling of Nikolai/Nicholas — from Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people' (nike, 'victory', plus laosPronounced nik-OH-lee▶Colen#7213 in the U.S.Colen is a variant spelling of Colin, a medieval English pet form of Nicholas; Nicholas comes from the GrPronounced KOH-lin▶Nicholaus#7572 in the U.S.A spelling of Nicholas — from Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people' (nike, 'victory', + laos, 'people')Pronounced NIK-uh-lus▶Nickolai#7573 in the U.S.A spelling of Nikolai — the Slavic form of Nicholas, from Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people'Pronounced nik-oh-LY▶Nikai#7574 in the U.S.A modern coined name, variously echoing Nike ('victory', Greek) and Kai; no single fixed root; routes uncPronounced nih-KY▶Nicholi#8082 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Nikolai (a Slavic form of Nicholas), from the Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the peopPronounced NIK-oh-ly▶Nicko#8715 in the U.S.A short, friendly form of Nicholas (or Nikolas), from the Greek for 'victory of the people.' Warm and casPronounced NIK-oh▶Nicolaus#8716 in the U.S.Nicolaus is the Latinized (and German) form of Nicholas — Greek Nikolaos, from nikē 'victory' and laos 'pPronounced NIK-oh-lows▶Nicasio#8782 in the U.S.The Spanish form of Nicasius, from the Greek nike, 'victory' — a saint's name of the early Church. Warm aPronounced nee-KAH-see-oh▶Stefanos#8853 in the U.S.The Greek form of Stephen — from stephanos, 'a crown; a garland; a wreath (of victory)'Pronounced steh-FAH-nos▶Collyn#9071 in the U.S.A -yn respelling of Colin, which arose in medieval England as a pet form of Nicholas (Greek Nikolaos, 'viPronounced KAH-lin▶Nickolaus#9489 in the U.S.Nickolaus is a respelling of Nicholas, from Greek Nikolaos — nike, 'victory,' plus laos, 'people' — 'victPronounced NIK-uh-lus▶Nicandro#9583 in the U.S.A Spanish/Italian form of Nicander — from the Greek Nikandros, 'victory of a man; victorious man' (nike, Pronounced nee-KAHN-droh▶Nikolaj#9586 in the U.S.A Danish/Scandinavian form of Nicholas — from the Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people' (nike, 'victoryPronounced NEE-koh-ly▶Nicolaas#10466 in the U.S.The Dutch form of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people' (nike, 'victory,' and laos, Pronounced nee-koh-LAHS▶Nicanor#10475 in the U.S.Nicanor is a Greek name from nike, victory, and aner or andros, man, meaning victorious man; it appears iPronounced nee-kah-NOR▶Nicklas#10476 in the U.S.A form of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people' (nike, 'victory,' + laos, 'people').Pronounced NIK-luhs▶Nicolae#10565 in the U.S.The Romanian form of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people' (nike, 'victory,' + laos,Pronounced nee-koh-LAH-eh▶Nicoli#10566 in the U.S.A spelling of Nicoli/Nicolai, forms of Nicholas from the Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people' (nike, 'Pronounced nih-KOH-lee▶Nike#10567 in the U.S.From the Greek Nike, 'victory' — the winged goddess of victory in Greek myth, and the root of the famous Pronounced NY-kee▶Kolyn#11540 in the U.S.Kolyn is a late-century American respelling of Colin, itself a medieval short form of Nicholas, from the Pronounced KOL-in▶Nickolus#11716 in the U.S.Nickolus is a phonetic respelling of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos, joining nike, 'victory,' and laosPronounced NIK-uh-lus▶Mikolaj#11839 in the U.S.The Polish form of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people' (nike + laos). A classic PoPronounced mee-KO-wy▶Nickoli#11884 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Nikolai/Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people' (nike + laos). Pronounced NIK-uh-lie▶Nikkolas#11885 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people' (nike + laos). Borne thPronounced NIK-uh-lus▶Nikodemus#11887 in the U.S.A form of Nicodemus, from the Greek Nikodemos, 'victory of the people' (nike + demos). Nicodemus is a PhaPronounced nik-oh-DEE-mus▶Steban#12113 in the U.S.Steban is a form of the Spanish Esteban (Stephen), from the Greek Stephanos, 'crown; garland.' A warm herPronounced steh-BAHN▶Nickey#12128 in the U.S.Nickey is a spelling of Nicky, the everyday short form of Nicholas — Greek Nikolaos, from nike, 'victory,Pronounced NIK-ee▶Adamas#12334 in the U.S.From Greek adamas, 'unconquerable; invincible' — the very word that gave English 'diamond,' the hardest oPronounced AD-uh-mas▶Colyn#12491 in the U.S.Colyn is an older-looking spelling of Colin, which began as a medieval pet form of Nicholas (Greek NikolaPronounced KOL-in▶Nickie#12666 in the U.S.Nickie is an affectionate short form of Nicholas, from Greek Nikolaos, combining nike, 'victory', and laoPronounced NIK-ee▶Collis#12705 in the U.S.Collis is an English surname most often traced to Coll, a medieval short form of Nicholas (Greek 'victoryPronounced KOL-iss▶Nickolis#13455 in the U.S.Nickolis is a spelling variant of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos, joining nike, 'victory,' with laos, Pronounced NIK-uh-liss▶Nikolos#13497 in the U.S.Nikolos is a respelling of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos, which joins nike, 'victory,' to laos, 'peopPronounced NIK-uh-luhs▶Miklos#13519 in the U.S.Miklos (Hungarian Miklós) is the Hungarian form of Nicholas, from Greek Nikolaos — nike, 'victory', and lPronounced MEEK-lohsh▶Nik#13605 in the U.S.A short form of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos — nike ('victory') joined to laos ('people'), 'victory Pronounced NIK▶Nikoloz#13607 in the U.S.The Georgian form of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos — nike ('victory') plus laos ('people'). It is onePronounced nee-koh-LOZ▶Nickoles#13688 in the U.S.Nickoles is an unusual spelling of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos, joining nike, 'victory,' to laos, 'Pronounced NIK-uh-lus▶Mykola#13714 in the U.S.The Ukrainian form of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people' (nike, 'victory,' + laosPronounced mih-KOH-lah▶
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Frequently Asked
Why do so many Greek boy names mean victory?
Because most trace to one root: nike (victory) plus laos (people), the source of Nicholas and its many variants. One popular ancient name, spread through Christian tradition, produced an unusually large family of related names.