Total births
2,220
Girls' name · since 1956
Nicol
Since 1956, U.S. Social Security records show 2,220 babies named Nicol, peaking in 1970. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #5647
- among girls today
- 2,220
- born since 1956
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 68%
- more common than other girls
2,220 babies have been named Nicol since 1956, making it today's #5647 girls' name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Nicol has been recorded 2,220 times among girls since 1956, currently ranked #5647 nationally and more common than 68% of girls, with its heaviest use in the 1970s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1956 to 2025.
- #5647 among girls today
- 2,220 born since 1956
- 1970s peak decade
- 68% more common than other girls
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Nicol is currently the #5647 girls' name in America, more common than 68% of girls - 2,220 born since 1956, peaking in the 1970s.
- #5647
- among girls today
- 2,220
- born since 1956
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 68%
- more common than other girls
Nicol vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#5647
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 68% of names given to girls today.
1970s
Peak decade
36% of everyone ever named Nicol was born in this single decade.
1970
Single peak year
125 babies were named Nicol in 1970 - its busiest year on record.
How Nicol compares
2,220 Top 21% higher than 79% of 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls 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
Nicol's all-time total is 6x the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Nicol | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 2,220 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 125 | 48 | 19,840 |
Nicol's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Nicol splits its recorded history at 1993: 36% of all births land in the more recent half, 64% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1956 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1970 peak of 125 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Nicol at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1970
Current rank
#5,647
Active since
1956
Nicol popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1956–2025
- Peak year (1970)
- 125
- Annual births at peak, across 70 years of records
Nicol popularity over time - boys
28 total births recorded since 1968 (Nicol as boys' name)
Nicol by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1970s was Nicol's strongest decade.
808 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 36% of all-time use.
Nicol births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 5
1950s
5 births
- 1960s 262
1960s
262 births
- 1970s
1970s
808 births
- 1980s 295
1980s
295 births
- 1990s 186
1990s
186 births
- 2000s 306
2000s
306 births
- 2010s 239
2010s
239 births
- 2020s 119
2020s
119 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 808 births (36% of all-time use).
How Nicol compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Nicol's total volume
Nicol vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Nicol by state
Where Nicol concentrates geographically, total births since 1956
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 258 | 11.6% |
| #2 | New York | | 117 | 5.3% |
| #3 | Pennsylvania | | 53 | 2.4% |
| #4 | Ohio | | 51 | 2.3% |
| #5 | Texas | | 47 | 2.1% |
| #6 | Michigan | | 45 | 2.0% |
| #7 | New Jersey | | 41 | 1.8% |
| #8 | Illinois | | 39 | 1.8% |
California share of Nicol's total US births 11.6%
Even split
258 of 2,220 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 13 reporting states.
Nicol appears in 13 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Nicol? ▼
Nicol has been given to 2,220 babies in the U.S. since 1956, according to SSA data. Among girls, it ranks #5647 as of the latest data. 125 babies were born in 1970, its single highest year.
When was Nicol most popular? ▼
Nicol was most popular in the 1970s decade with 808 total births. The single peak year was 1970.
Where is Nicol most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Nicol are California (258 births), New York (117 births), Pennsylvania (53 births).
How long has the name Nicol been used? ▼
Records for Nicol go back to 1956, giving 70 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Nicol? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Nicole, Nichole, Nicolette, Nicki, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Nicol's data
- Nicol's decade-level peak was the 1970s (808 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 Nicols (258 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 Nicol
Nearby Names Like Nicol
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nicol
Nicole Girl
#318 594,500 births
Nichole Girl
#3343 63,770 births
Nicolette Girl
#2015 17,129 births
Nicki Girl
6,083 births
Nicolle Girl
#3025 6,077 births
Compare Nicol side by side: Nicol vs Nicole Nicol vs Nichole Nicol vs Nicolette
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Nicol
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, 1956–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Nicol: #5647 Girls' Name - 2,220 Births, Peak 1970." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/nicol. 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 Nicol 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.