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Nicholai
How to Pronounce Nicholai
Pronounced nik-ə-LY /ˌnɪk.əˈlaɪ/Medium
Meaning: A spelling of Nikolai — from Greek Nikolaos, 'the victory of the people' (nike, 'victory', plus laos, 'people')Medium
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Nicholai is a spelling of Nikolai — the Russian and Slavic form of Nicholas, from Greek Nikolaos, 'the victory of the people' (nike, 'victory', plus laos, 'people'; St Nicholas, the inspiration for Santa Claus). A strong, classic name; the -ai spelling personalizes it (said 'nik-ə-LY'; nickname Nick, Niko).
It registers thinly beside Nikolai. Rare, the-victory-of-the-people at the root, and classic.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Nicholai mean?
Nicholai spells Nikolai/Nicholas — Greek 'the victory of the people'.
How do you pronounce Nicholai?
It's said nik-ə-LY /ˌnɪk.əˈlaɪ/ — three syllables, stress on the last.
Is Nicholai a boy or girl name?
Nicholai is a boy's name.
How popular is Nicholai?
Nicholai is a rare spelling in the U.S.; Nikolai is more common.