Total births
3,462
Boys' name · since 1964
Nicklaus
Nicklaus has 3,462 recorded births since 1964 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1997 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #4938
- among boys today
- 3,462
- born since 1964
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 65%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Nicklaus is the #4938 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 3,462 recorded since 1964.
Social Security Administration records show Nicklaus recorded 3,462 times among boys since 1964, holding rank #4938 nationally today, ahead of 65% of boys, peaking in the 1990s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1964 to 2025.
- #4938 among boys today
- 3,462 born since 1964
- 1990s peak decade
- 65% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Nicklaus is currently the #4938 boys' name in America, more common than 65% of boys - 3,462 born since 1964, peaking in the 1990s.
- #4938
- among boys today
- 3,462
- born since 1964
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 65%
- more common than other boys
Nicklaus vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#4938
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 65% of names given to boys today.
1990s
Peak decade
34% of everyone ever named Nicklaus was born in this single decade.
1997
Single peak year
156 babies were named Nicklaus in 1997 - its busiest year on record.
How Nicklaus compares
3,462 Top 15% higher than 85% 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
Nicklaus's all-time total is 9x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Nicklaus | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 3,462 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 156 | 23 | 22,252 |
Nicklaus's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Nicklaus's full recorded timeline at 1996, 52% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 48% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1964, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1997 peak of 156 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Nicklaus at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1997
Current rank
#4,938
Active since
1964
Nicklaus popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1964–2025
- Peak year (1997)
- 156
- Annual births at peak, across 62 years of records
Nicklaus by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Nicklaus's strongest decade.
1,178 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 34% of all-time use.
Nicklaus births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 24
1960s
24 births
- 1970s 285
1970s
285 births
- 1980s
1980s
714 births
- 1990s
1990s
1,178 births
- 2000s
2000s
869 births
- 2010s 273
2010s
273 births
- 2020s 119
2020s
119 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 1,178 births (34% of all-time use).
How Nicklaus 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 Nicklaus's total volume
Nicklaus vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Nicklaus by state
Where Nicklaus concentrates geographically, total births since 1964
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 260 | 7.5% |
| #2 | Texas | | 193 | 5.6% |
| #3 | Ohio | | 142 | 4.1% |
| #4 | Florida | | 113 | 3.3% |
| #5 | Michigan | | 97 | 2.8% |
| #6 | Illinois | | 64 | 1.8% |
| #7 | Georgia | | 50 | 1.4% |
| #8 | Tennessee | | 46 | 1.3% |
California share of Nicklaus's total US births 7.5%
Even split
260 of 3,462 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 23 reporting states.
Nicklaus appears in 23 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Nicklaus? ▼
Since 1964, Social Security records show 3,462 babies named Nicklaus. Today it holds rank #4938 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 1997, with 156 births.
When was Nicklaus most popular? ▼
Nicklaus was most popular in the 1990s decade with 1,178 total births. The single peak year was 1997.
Where is Nicklaus most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Nicklaus are California (260 births), Texas (193 births), Ohio (142 births).
How long has the name Nicklaus been used? ▼
Records for Nicklaus go back to 1964, giving 62 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Nicklaus? ▼
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 Nicklaus's data
- Nicklaus's decade-level peak was the 1990s (1,178 total births); usage has since declined to 119 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Nicklauss (260 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 Nicklaus
Nearby Names Like Nicklaus
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nicklaus
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 Nicklaus side by side: Nicklaus vs Nicholas Nicklaus vs Nicolas Nicklaus vs Nick
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Nicklaus
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, 1964–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Nicklaus: #4938 Boys' Name - 3,462 Births, Peak 1997." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/nicklaus. 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 Nicklaus 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.