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.
- #5,057 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- #6,876 of 13,930
- 2025 SSA year
- 1,024
- born since 1962
- 2010s
- peak decade
1,024 babies have been named Nicholai since 1962, making it today's #6876 boys' name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Nicholai has been recorded 1,024 times among boys since 1962, currently ranked #6876 nationally and more common than 51% 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.
- #5,057 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- #6,876 of 13,930 2025 SSA year
- 1,024 born since 1962
- 2010s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Nicholai ranks #5,057 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first) and #6,876 of 13,930 among boys' names in 2025. 1,024 born since 1962, peaking in the 2010s.
- #5,057 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- #6,876 of 13,930
- 2025 SSA year
- 1,024
- born since 1962
- 2010s
- peak decade
Nicholai's 1,024 recorded births place it above 88.87% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 5 jurisdictions, led by California.
How Nicholai compares
1,024 Top 31% higher than 69% of 13,930 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 178% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Nicholai | Median boys name (Takari) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,024 | 369 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 51 | 34 | 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 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
2010s is the heaviest window (392 births, 38% of the file).
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 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% |
70 of 1,024 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When was Nicholai most popular? ▼
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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
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
Compare Nicholai side by side: Nicholai vs Nicholas Nicholai vs Nicolas Nicholai vs Nick
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Nicholai
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Nicholai: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~2010)
Similar record span (~63 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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).
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 August 2026.