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Home › Baby Names Directory › Nikolaus

Nikolaus

♂ Boy

Pronounced NIK-oh-lowss /ˈnɪk.oʊ.laʊs/High

Meaning: German form of Nicholas — Greek Nikolaos, nike, 'victory', plus laos, 'people'High

In 30 seconds: St. Nick in the original German: Nikolaus — 'victory of the people' — fills boots with chocolate every December 6th. Gift-bearing and triumphant.
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Origin HighGreek, German
MeaningGerman form of Nicholas — Greek Nikolaos, nike, 'victory', plus laos, 'people'
U.S. rank (2025)#4346 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births24 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1994
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,655

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199419552025

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

Nikolaus is the German form of Nicholas — Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people' — the gift-giving saint of Myra. Copernicus (Nikolaus Kopernikus) spun it round the sun.

In the U.S. it appears in German-heritage families. Rare, people's-victory at the root, and festive.

Did you know? German children set out boots on Nikolaustag — December 6th — for this name's saint to fill overnight; Santa's older, sterner cousin.
Overall data confidence 88%
Behind the Name — Nikolaus — etymology

Variations

NicholasNiklausNikolas

Nicknames

NikoKlaus

Famous Bearers

  • ★Nikolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)
    Polish astronomer who formulated the heliocentric model of the solar system
  • ★Nikolaus Harnoncourt (1929-2016)
    Austrian conductor and cellist, pioneer of historically informed performance practice
  • ★Nikolaus Pevsner (1902-1983)
    German-British art historian known for the Buildings of England series

If you like Nikolaus…

Nicholas— the English standard form
Nikolas— the streamlined K-spelling
Klaus— the German short form inside it
Nikolai— the Russian brother

Explore names like Nikolaus

By themegreekgermansaint
By meaningVictory

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Nikolaus mean?

Nikolaus is the German form of Nicholas, Greek for 'victory of the people'.

How do you pronounce Nikolaus?

It's said NIK-oh-lowss /ˈnɪk.oʊ.laʊs/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Nikolaus a boy or girl name?

Nikolaus is a boy's name.

How popular is Nikolaus?

Nikolaus is a rare name in the U.S.

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