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Home › Baby Names Directory › Nika

Nika

♀ Girl

Pronounced NEE-kah /ˈniːkɑ/High

Meaning: Derived from the Greek 'nikē', meaning 'victory'; used as a stand-alone name across Slavic Europe and the Mediterranean.High

In 30 seconds: A crisp two-syllable girl's name meaning 'victory', rooted in Greek and used widely across Slavic and Mediterranean cultures.
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Origin HighGreek, Slavic
MeaningDerived from the Greek 'nikē', meaning 'victory'; used as a stand-alone name across Slavic Europe and the Mediterranean.
U.S. rank (2025)#3200 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births50 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2017
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,494

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201719612025

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

Nika originates as a short form of names like Nikoleta, Veronika, and Dominika in Slavic languages, but it has long functioned independently as a given name. In Russia, Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia, Nika is common for girls. Its Greek foundation — the goddess Nike, personification of victory — gives the name a timeless, triumphant quality.

In recent decades Nika has gained popularity far beyond its Slavic and Eastern European heartland, appearing in Western Europe and the Americas. Its brevity and the strong vowel ending make it easy to pronounce across many languages. The name also has resonance in Persian, where nik means 'good', lending an additional layer of positive meaning.

Did you know? Nike was the Greek goddess of victory, depicted with wings and a laurel wreath — the same goddess whose name inspired the iconic sportswear brand.
Overall data confidence 93%
Liddell & Scott Greek-English Lexicon — Documents 'nikē' as victory, the root of Nike and related names.Behind the Name – Nika — Confirms usage in Slavic countries and Greek origin.

Variations

NicaNikkaNiko

Nicknames

NiNik

Famous Bearers

  • ★Nika Futterman (1969-)
    American voice actress who voices Asajj Ventress in the Star Wars franchise
  • ★Nika Roza Danilova (Zola Jesus) (1989-)
    American singer-songwriter behind the project Zola Jesus

If you like Nika…

Astra— Short, strong, modern-feeling girl's names
Zyana— Contemporary two-syllable feminine names
Nova— Crisp, energetic names with positive connotations
Nicolle— another Greek name
Ellen— another short pick

Explore names like Nika

By thememoderngreekshortslavicinternationalvictory
By meaningVictory

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Nika mean?

Nika means 'victory', derived from the Greek 'nikē'. It is also linked to the Persian word 'nik' meaning 'good'.

How do you pronounce Nika?

Nika is pronounced NEE-kah, with two syllables and stress on the first.

Is Nika a boy or girl name?

Nika is most commonly a girl's name in Slavic and Mediterranean countries, though in some cultures it may be used for boys.

How popular is Nika?

Nika is popular across Eastern Europe, particularly in Slovenia, Croatia, and Russia, and is growing in use in Western countries as well.

💬 Ask Nia