Total births
1,711
Boys' name · since 1976
Niklas
Since 1976, U.S. Social Security records show 1,711 babies named Niklas, peaking in 2000. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #12726
- among boys today
- 1,711
- born since 1976
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 11%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Niklas is the #12726 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 1,711 recorded since 1976.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Niklas has been recorded 1,711 times among boys since 1976, currently ranked #12726 nationally and more common than 11% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 2000s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1976 to 2025.
- #12726 among boys today
- 1,711 born since 1976
- 2000s peak decade
- 11% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Niklas is currently the #12726 boys' name in America, more common than 11% of boys - 1,711 born since 1976, peaking in the 2000s.
- #12726
- among boys today
- 1,711
- born since 1976
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 11%
- more common than other boys
Niklas vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#12726
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 11% of names given to boys today.
2000s
Peak decade
40% of everyone ever named Niklas was born in this single decade.
2000
Single peak year
90 babies were named Niklas in 2000 - its busiest year on record.
How Niklas compares
1,711 Top 23% higher than 77% 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
Niklas's all-time total is 5x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Niklas | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,711 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 90 | 23 | 22,252 |
Niklas's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Niklas's SSA record in two at 2001 and the more recent half accounts for 56% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 44%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1976, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2000 peak of 90, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Niklas at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2000
Current rank
#12,726
Active since
1976
Niklas popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1976–2025
- Peak year (2000)
- 90
- Annual births at peak, across 50 years of records
Niklas by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Niklas's strongest decade.
686 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 40% of all-time use.
Niklas births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 22
1970s
22 births
- 1980s 155
1980s
155 births
- 1990s
1990s
486 births
- 2000s
2000s
686 births
- 2010s
2010s
296 births
- 2020s 66
2020s
66 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 686 births (40% of all-time use).
How Niklas 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 Niklas's total volume
Niklas vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Niklas by state
Where Niklas concentrates geographically, total births since 1976
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 198 | 11.6% |
| #2 | Michigan | | 81 | 4.7% |
| #3 | Minnesota | | 52 | 3.0% |
| #4 | Texas | | 47 | 2.7% |
| #5 | New York | | 18 | 1.1% |
| #6 | Florida | | 12 | 0.7% |
| #7 | Illinois | | 12 | 0.7% |
| #8 | Pennsylvania | | 10 | 0.6% |
California share of Niklas's total US births 11.6%
Even split
198 of 1,711 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 10 reporting states.
Niklas appears in 10 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Niklas? ▼
Since 1976, Social Security records show 1,711 babies named Niklas. Today it holds rank #12726 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2000, with 90 births.
When was Niklas most popular? ▼
Niklas was most popular in the 2000s decade with 686 total births. The single peak year was 2000.
Where is Niklas most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Niklas are California (198 births), Michigan (81 births), Minnesota (52 births).
How long has the name Niklas been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Niklas since 1976 -- 50 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Niklas? ▼
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 Niklas's data
- Niklas's decade-level peak was the 2000s (686 total births); usage has since declined to 66 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Niklass (198 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 Niklas
Nearby Names Like Niklas
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Niklas
Nikolas Boy
#730 24,035 births
Niko Boy
#344 14,629 births
Nikolai Boy
#593 11,027 births
Nikhil Boy
#2541 5,404 births
Nikko Boy
#1280 4,526 births
Compare Niklas side by side: Niklas vs Nikolas Niklas vs Niko Niklas vs Nikolai
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Niklas
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, 1976–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Niklas: #12726 Boys' Name - 1,711 Births, Peak 2000." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/niklas. 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 Niklas 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.