Nixon

♂ Boy

Pronounced NIK-sun /ˈnɪk.sən/High

Meaning: Son of Nicholas; from the medieval English short form Nick (of Nicholas: victory of the people) + -sonHigh

In 30 seconds: An English patronymic surname meaning 'son of Nicholas' (victory of the people). Despite its association with President Nixon and Watergate, it has entered the U.S. boys' given name charts as part of the presidential surname trend.

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Origin HighEnglish

MeaningSon of Nicholas; from the medieval English short form Nick (of Nicholas: victory of the people) + -son

U.S. rank (2025)#1061 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births206 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2017

Total births (all-time)≈ 7,383

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

Nixon is an English patronymic surname, 'son of Nick,' where Nick is the medieval short form of Nicholas, from Greek Nikolaos (victory of the people). The surname is common in northern England.

Nixon entered the U.S. boys' given name charts in the 2010s as part of the trend for presidential and surname names. It ranked #873 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Richard Nixon (1913–1994) is the only U.S. president to have resigned from office — a fact that makes the name Nixon unusual among presidential surnames, which parents typically choose for positive associations. Yet Watergate is receding historically, and Nixon's diplomatic China opening is remembered more favorably.

Overall data confidence 92%

Behind the Name — Nixon — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

Nickson

Nicknames

Nick

Famous Bearers

★Richard Nixon (1913–1994)
37th President of the United States (1969–1974), who resigned following the Watergate scandal and opened diplomatic relations with China.

If you like Nixon…

Lincoln— presidential surname name at the same prestige level for boys

Reagan— presidential surname name popular for both boys and girls

Madison— presidential surname that went predominantly female

Harrison— presidential surname name in the same historical register

Jackson— presidential surname name in the same popular surname-name category

Explore names like Nixon

By themeenglish greek two-syllable surname-style patronymic presidential

By meaningVictory

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Nixon mean?

Nixon means 'son of Nicholas,' from the medieval short form Nick of Nicholas (Greek Nikolaos: victory of the people).

How do you pronounce Nixon?

It's said NIK-sun — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Nixon a boy or girl name?

Nixon is used as a boys' name.

How popular is Nixon?

Nixon ranked #873 for U.S. boys in 2024.