Total births
1,024
Boys' name · since 1962
Nicholai
Since 1962, U.S. Social Security records show 1,024 babies named Nicholai, peaking in 2010. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #5494
- among boys today
- 1,024
- born since 1962
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 62%
- more common than other boys
1,024 babies have been named Nicholai since 1962, making it today's #5494 boys' name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Nicholai has been recorded 1,024 times among boys since 1962, currently ranked #5494 nationally and more common than 62% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 2010s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1962 to 2025.
- #5494 among boys today
- 1,024 born since 1962
- 2010s peak decade
- 62% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Nicholai is currently the #5494 boys' name in America, more common than 62% of boys - 1,024 born since 1962, peaking in the 2010s.
- #5494
- among boys today
- 1,024
- born since 1962
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 62%
- more common than other boys
Nicholai vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#5494
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 62% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
38% of everyone ever named Nicholai was born in this single decade.
2010
Single peak year
51 babies were named Nicholai in 2010 - its busiest year on record.
How Nicholai compares
1,024 Top 30% higher than 70% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Nicholai's all-time total is 179% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Nicholai | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,024 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 51 | 23 | 22,252 |
Nicholai's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Nicholai's SSA record in two at 2001 and the more recent half accounts for 76% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 24%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1962, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2010 peak of 51, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Nicholai at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2010
Current rank
#5,494
Active since
1962
Nicholai popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1962–2025
- Peak year (2010)
- 51
- Annual births at peak, across 64 years of records
Nicholai by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Nicholai's strongest decade.
392 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 38% of all-time use.
Nicholai births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 5
1960s
5 births
- 1970s 17
1970s
17 births
- 1980s 95
1980s
95 births
- 1990s 120
1990s
120 births
- 2000s
2000s
300 births
- 2010s
2010s
392 births
- 2020s 95
2020s
95 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 392 births (38% of all-time use).
How Nicholai compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Nicholai's total volume
Nicholai vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Nicholai by state
Where Nicholai concentrates geographically, total births since 1962
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 70 | 6.8% |
| #2 | Texas | | 49 | 4.8% |
| #3 | New York | | 35 | 3.4% |
| #4 | Florida | | 15 | 1.5% |
| #5 | Alaska | | 5 | 0.5% |
California share of Nicholai's total US births 6.8%
Even split
70 of 1,024 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Nicholai? ▼
Since 1962, Social Security records show 1,024 babies named Nicholai. Today it holds rank #5494 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2010, with 51 births.
When was Nicholai most popular? ▼
Nicholai was most popular in the 2010s decade with 392 total births. The single peak year was 2010.
Where is Nicholai most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Nicholai are California (70 births), Texas (49 births), New York (35 births).
How long has the name Nicholai been used? ▼
Records for Nicholai go back to 1962, giving 64 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Nicholai? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Nicholas, Nicolas, Nick, Nickolas, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Nicholai's data
- Nicholai's decade-level peak was the 2010s (392 total births); usage has since declined to 95 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Nicholais (70 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Nicholai
Nearby Names Like Nicholai
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nicholai
Nicholas Boy
#117 926,047 births
Nicolas Boy
#184 101,585 births
Nick Boy
#1418 50,457 births
Nickolas Boy
#1542 39,356 births
Nico Boy
#211 21,294 births
Compare Nicholai side by side: Nicholai vs Nicholas Nicholai vs Nicolas Nicholai vs Nick
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Nicholai
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1962–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Nicholai: #5494 Boys' Name - 1,024 Births, Peak 2010." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/nicholai. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Nicholai draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.