Total births
1,865
Boys' name · since 1962
Nicolai
Nicolai has 1,865 recorded births since 1962 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2015 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #2569
- among boys today
- 1,865
- born since 1962
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 82%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Nicolai is the #2569 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 1,865 recorded since 1962.
Social Security Administration records show Nicolai recorded 1,865 times among boys since 1962, holding rank #2569 nationally today, ahead of 82% of boys, peaking in the 2010s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1962 to 2025.
- #2569 among boys today
- 1,865 born since 1962
- 2010s peak decade
- 82% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Nicolai is currently the #2569 boys' name in America, more common than 82% of boys - 1,865 born since 1962, peaking in the 2010s.
- #2569
- among boys today
- 1,865
- born since 1962
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 82%
- more common than other boys
Nicolai vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#2569
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 82% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
33% of everyone ever named Nicolai was born in this single decade.
2015
Single peak year
78 babies were named Nicolai in 2015 - its busiest year on record.
How Nicolai compares
1,865 Top 22% higher than 78% 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
Nicolai's all-time total is 5x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Nicolai | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,865 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 78 | 23 | 22,252 |
Nicolai's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Nicolai's SSA record in two at 1999 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 1974, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2015 peak of 78, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Nicolai at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2015
Current rank
#2,569
Active since
1962
Nicolai popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1962–2025
- Peak year (2015)
- 78
- Annual births at peak, across 64 years of records
Nicolai by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Nicolai's strongest decade.
607 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 33% of all-time use.
Nicolai births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 12
1960s
12 births
- 1970s 48
1970s
48 births
- 1980s 125
1980s
125 births
- 1990s
1990s
284 births
- 2000s
2000s
463 births
- 2010s
2010s
607 births
- 2020s
2020s
326 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 607 births (33% of all-time use).
How Nicolai 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 Nicolai's total volume
Nicolai vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Nicolai by state
Where Nicolai concentrates geographically, total births since 1962
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 307 | 16.5% |
| #2 | Texas | | 104 | 5.6% |
| #3 | Florida | | 73 | 3.9% |
| #4 | New York | | 30 | 1.6% |
| #5 | Ohio | | 11 | 0.6% |
| #6 | Virginia | | 10 | 0.5% |
| #7 | Pennsylvania | | 8 | 0.4% |
| #8 | Arizona | | 7 | 0.4% |
California share of Nicolai's total US births 16.5%
Even split
307 of 1,865 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 10 reporting states.
Nicolai appears in 10 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Nicolai? ▼
Nicolai has been given to 1,865 babies in the U.S. since 1962, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #2569 as of the latest data. 78 babies were born in 2015, its single highest year.
When was Nicolai most popular? ▼
Nicolai was most popular in the 2010s decade with 607 total births. The single peak year was 2015.
Where is Nicolai most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Nicolai are California (307 births), Texas (104 births), Florida (73 births).
How long has the name Nicolai been used? ▼
Nicolai has been recorded in Social Security data since 1962, spanning 64 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Nicolai? ▼
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 Nicolai's data
- Nicolai's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (607 total births) through the 2020s (326) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Nicolais (307 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 Nicolai
Nearby Names Like Nicolai
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nicolai
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 Nicolai side by side: Nicolai vs Nicholas Nicolai vs Nicolas Nicolai vs Nick
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Nicolai
Filip #2568
2,384 births · Peak 2012
Juancarlos #2570
4,056 births · Peak 2004
Javen #2567
3,461 births · Peak 2007
Khristian #2571
2,801 births · Peak 2013
Brendon #2566
20,081 births · Peak 1998
Kekoa #2572
2,053 births · Peak 2017
Alen #2565
2,371 births · Peak 2005
Akram #2573
1,453 births · Peak 2023
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. "Nicolai: #2569 Boys' Name - 1,865 Births, Peak 2015." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/nicolai. 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 Nicolai 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.