Nikolai

At a Glance: Name: Nikolai – Meaning: victory of the people – Origin: Russian (East Slavic) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: NIK-oh-ly

---

Nikolai is a boy's name of Russian (East Slavic) origin, meaning "victory of the people." It's pronounced NIK-oh-ly, and it has a worldly, classic feel while still sounding modern.

Meaning & Origin of Nikolai

Meaning: Victory of the people.

Origin: Russian (East Slavic).

Source: Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Nikolai

Phonetic: NIK-oh-ly   IPA: /ˈnɪkəlaɪ/

Popularity of Nikolai

Nikolai peaked in the U.S. at #473 in 2018, with 614 babies given the name that year. As of 2024 it ranks #589, with 484 babies, so it's still in regular use, though a bit less common than at its peak.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1960–2024.

Make Nikolai Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Nikolai, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Alexei
• Andrei
• Arseniy
• Boris
• Igor
• Konstantin

FAQ

What does the name Nikolai mean?

Victory of the people. (Source: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai)

How do you pronounce Nikolai?

Nikolai is pronounced NIK-oh-ly (IPA: /ˈnɪkəlaɪ/).

Is Nikolai a popular name right now?

Nikolai peaked at #473 in 2018 and is ranked #589 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1960–2024.)

More Baby Name Inspiration

• Check any name’s popularity history
• Take the naming-style quiz
• Make art for a different name