Total births
4,526
Boys' name · since 1972
Nikko
Since 1972, U.S. Social Security records show 4,526 babies named Nikko, peaking in 2021. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #1280
- among boys today
- 4,526
- born since 1972
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 91%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Nikko is the #1280 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 4,526 recorded since 1972.
Social Security Administration records show Nikko recorded 4,526 times among boys since 1972, holding rank #1280 nationally today, ahead of 91% 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 1972 to 2025.
- #1280 among boys today
- 4,526 born since 1972
- 2010s peak decade
- 91% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Nikko is currently the #1280 boys' name in America, more common than 91% of boys - 4,526 born since 1972, peaking in the 2010s.
- #1280
- among boys today
- 4,526
- born since 1972
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 91%
- more common than other boys
Nikko vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#1280
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 91% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
31% of everyone ever named Nikko was born in this single decade.
2021
Single peak year
216 babies were named Nikko in 2021 - its busiest year on record.
How Nikko compares
4,526 Top 13% higher than 87% 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
Nikko's all-time total is 12x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Nikko | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 4,526 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 216 | 23 | 22,252 |
Nikko's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Nikko's SSA record in two at 2004 and the more recent half accounts for 65% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 35%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1972, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2021 peak of 216, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Nikko at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2021
Current rank
#1,280
Active since
1972
Nikko popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1972–2025
- Peak year (2021)
- 216
- Annual births at peak, across 54 years of records
Nikko popularity over time - girls
176 total births recorded since 1970 (Nikko as girls' name)
Nikko by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Nikko's strongest decade.
1,386 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 31% of all-time use.
Nikko births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 5
1970s
5 births
- 1980s 211
1980s
211 births
- 1990s
1990s
1,062 births
- 2000s
2000s
822 births
- 2010s
2010s
1,386 births
- 2020s
2020s
1,040 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 1,386 births (31% of all-time use).
How Nikko 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 Nikko's total volume
Nikko vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Nikko by state
Where Nikko concentrates geographically, total births since 1972
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 1,029 | 22.7% |
| #2 | Illinois | | 355 | 7.8% |
| #3 | Texas | | 289 | 6.4% |
| #4 | New York | | 216 | 4.8% |
| #5 | Florida | | 174 | 3.8% |
| #6 | Michigan | | 83 | 1.8% |
| #7 | New Jersey | | 83 | 1.8% |
| #8 | Pennsylvania | | 73 | 1.6% |
California share of Nikko's total US births 22.7%
Even split
1,029 of 4,526 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 28 reporting states.
Nikko appears in 28 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Nikko? ▼
Since 1972, Social Security records show 4,526 babies named Nikko. Today it holds rank #1280 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2021, with 216 births.
When was Nikko most popular? ▼
Nikko was most popular in the 2010s decade with 1,386 total births. The single peak year was 2021.
Where is Nikko most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Nikko are California (1,029 births), Illinois (355 births), Texas (289 births).
How long has the name Nikko been used? ▼
Records for Nikko go back to 1972, giving 54 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Nikko? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Nikolas, Niko, Nikolai, Nikhil, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Nikko's data
- Nikko's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (1,386 total births) through the 2020s (1,040) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Nikkos (1,029 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 Nikko
Nearby Names Like Nikko
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nikko
Nikolas Boy
#730 24,035 births
Niko Boy
#344 14,629 births
Nikolai Boy
#593 11,027 births
Nikhil Boy
#2541 5,404 births
Nikola Boy
#1593 3,444 births
Compare Nikko side by side: Nikko vs Nikolas Nikko vs Niko Nikko vs Nikolai
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Nikko
Amani #1279
2,890 births · Peak 2024
Perseus #1281
1,390 births · Peak 2025
Natanael #1278
2,557 births · Peak 2020
Amadeus #1282
1,720 births · Peak 2024
Viktor #1277
3,634 births · Peak 2018
Draco #1283
1,424 births · Peak 2021
Coleman #1276
17,599 births · Peak 1997
Xavi #1284
2,486 births · Peak 2011
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, 1972–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Nikko: #1280 Boys' Name - 4,526 Births, Peak 2021." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/nikko. 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 Nikko 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.