Nicholas is a distinctive choice, ranked #214 in 2025. Your child is likely to be the only Nicholas in their class.
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UK Rank 2025
#214
US Rank #112
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About the Name Nicholas
Nicholas is gradually declining in popularity, having dropped 35 places over five years. Its high point was #52 in 1996, and it now sits at #211. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has broken into the UK top 100 on 9 occasions, signalling genuine mainstream interest.
Nicholas is fairly common in the UK, so your child is very likely to be the only Nicholas in their class.
In the US it ranks even higher at #118, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
⭐ Famous People Named Nicholas
Nicholas Bailey — Nicholas Richard Bailey is a British actor, best known for his role as Anthony Trueman in the soap opera EastEnders.
Nicholas II — Nicholas II was Emperor of Russia, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Finland from 1 November 1894 until his abdication in 1917.
Nicholas Lloyd — Sir Nicholas Markley Lloyd is a British former newspaper editor and broadcaster.
Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Nicholas
Unlikely. With around 234 UK babies named Nicholas per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Nicholas in their class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Nicholas has been fairly steady, ranked #214 in 2025 against #176 in 2020. Its best recorded position was #52 in 1996.
Nicholas is more popular in the US (#118) than in the UK (#211). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Nicholas include: Nicholas Bailey, Nicholas Lloyd and Nicholas. Short summaries for each appear below.
Nicholas appears in the US top 500 at #118 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
234
UK babies named Nicholas (2025)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.1
In a school of 600
↓ 38 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Nicholas
Almost certainly the only Nicholas in the class
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UK Popularity (1996–2025)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2025)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Nicholas
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Thomas Evan Nicholas, who used the bardic name Niclas y Glais (Welsh for 'Nicholas of Glais''), was a Welsh language poet, preacher, radical, and champion of the disadvantaged of society.
Nicholas I may refer to: Pope Nicholas I (c. 800–867), or Nicholas the Great Nicholas Mystikos (852–925), Patriarch Nicholas I of Constantinople Nicholas I (bishop of the Isles), Bishop-elect of the Isles Nicholas I, Lord of Mecklenburg Nicholas I of Transylvania, voivode of Transylvania Nicholas I (bishop of Schleswig) Patriarch Nicholas I of Alexandria, Greek Patriarch of Alexandria between 1210 and 1243 Nicholas I, Duke of Troppau, natural son of king Ottokar II of Bohemia, became Duke of Troppau in Silesia Nicholas I, Lord of Rostock Nicholas I, Count of Tecklenburg Nicholas I Garai, chief governor of Bratislava, palatine to the King of Hungary Nicholas I of Opole (c.