Discover and Shortlist Your Perfect Baby Names!

Nikolaus as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Nikolaus

Add to my Name List

The baby name Nikolaus is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced German: [ˈniːkoˌlaʊs] (NEE-koh-lows); English approximation: /nɪˈkoʊləs/ (nih-KOH-ləs).

Nikolaus is Greek in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: German: [ˈniːkoˌlaʊs] (NEE-koh-lows); English approximation: /nɪˈkoʊləs/ (nih-KOH-ləs)

What is the meaning of the name Nikolaus ?

The baby name Nikolaus is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced German: [ˈniːkoˌlaʊs] (NEE-koh-lows); English approximation: /nɪˈkoʊləs/ (nih-KOH-ləs).

Nikolaus is Greek in Origin.

Nikolaus is the standard German form of Nicholas, from Greek Nikolaos (nike 'victory' + laos 'people'), yielding the sense "victory of the people." Carried by the 4th-century bishop Saint Nicholas of Myra, the name spread throughout the Christian world via Greek and Latin liturgy and became firmly established in German-speaking lands by the Middle Ages, appearing in parish rolls, guild registers, and princely houses.

Variants include Nikolaos (Greek), Nicholas and Nicolas (English/French), Nikolas, Nikola, and Nicola; Nikolai (Russian) and Nikolaj (Scandinavian/Slavic); Niklas and Nils (Nordic); Nicolae (Romanian); Nicolaas/Klaas (Dutch); Miklós (Hungarian); and Polish Mikołaj. German and Swiss short forms are Nick, Niko/Nico, Niki, Klaus, and Niklaus; diminutives such as Kolya travel widely. In Central Europe the name evokes the December 6 feast of der heilige Nikolaus and the Sinterklaas/Santa tradition. Today Nikolaus feels classic and pan-European, with steady if modest use in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Nikolaus has the following similar or variant Names

Nikolaus – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
JP 0 #77 1 4,057
OM 0 #121 1 6,215
ID Boys 0 #135 1 4,130
Switzerland Boys 2024 #136 2 1,769
Austria 0 #172 42 850
HU Boys 0 #172 3 3,954
Sweden Boys 2018 #184 3 1,584
Austria Boys 0 #189 358 2,180
DK 0 #206 1 5,198
LU Boys 0 #219 2 4,970
BG Boys 0 #220 1 3,850
NA Boys 0 #225 11 6,830
HR Boys 0 #258 2 3,997
GR Boys 0 #273 1 6,912
KZ Boys 0 #296 1 6,578
CZ Boys 0 #304 2 6,530
Canada Boys 2015 #324 5 2,393
DK Boys 0 #331 2 7,401
PL Boys 0 #339 2 6,459
GH Boys 0 #361 1 8,138
PL Girls 0 #364 1 5,096
PT Boys 0 #380 2 7,951
Germany 0 #399 39 2,542
PH Boys 0 #408 1 11,440
UY Boys 0 #412 2 5,922
SD Boys 0 #466 1 10,523
RU Boys 0 #523 4 12,621
IR Boys 0 #564 2 10,162
Germany Boys 0 #595 401 5,697
BO Boys 0 #622 1 9,244
Finland Boys 2026 #661 22 3,552
SG Boys 0 #739 1 17,960
BR Boys 0 #784 2 12,213
United States Boys 2024 #863 30 7,044
OM Boys 0 #918 1 17,948
EG Boys 0 #924 2 15,035
CO Boys 0 #981 1 15,656
MY Boys 0 #1,094 18 25,439
TR 0 #1,254 1 19,440
ZA Boys 0 #1,270 3 25,619
IT Boys 0 #1,427 45 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,691 1 28,008

Nikolaus is popular in 37 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
Switzerland
Canada
Sweden
Austria

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Nikolaus

Nikolaus is predominantly a boy's name.
Nikolaus is a 3 syllable name, pronounced German: [ˈniːkoˌlaʊs] (NEE-koh-lows); English approximation: /nɪˈkoʊləs/ (nih-KOH-ləs).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Nikolaos, Nicolaus, Niklaus, Niklas, Nikolas and Nickolaus.
Across languages, Nikolaus has these equivalents: Greek — Nikolaos (Νικόλαος), Russian — Nikolai (Николай), Scandinavian — Nils (related/diminutive).
Yes — Nikolaus ranked #136 in Switzerland in 2024, and appears in official birth registries across 5 countries.
Nikolaus ranks highest in Switzerland (#136 in 2024).
Nikolaus's popularity is declining significantly. It moved from #845 in 2014 to #863 in 2024 in United States.