Total births
3,444
Unisex name · since 1960
Nikola
Since 1960, U.S. Social Security records show 3,444 babies named Nikola, peaking in 2020. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #1593
- among boys today
- 3,444
- born since 1960
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 89%
- more common than other boys
3,444 babies have been named Nikola since 1960, making it today's #1593 unisex name.
Nikola has 3,444 recorded births among boys since 1960, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #1593 as of the latest data, more common than 89% of boys, busiest in the 2010s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1960 to 2025.
- #1593 among boys today
- 3,444 born since 1960
- 2010s peak decade
- 89% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Nikola is currently the #1593 unisex name in America, more common than 89% of boys - 3,444 born since 1960, peaking in the 2010s.
- #1593
- among boys today
- 3,444
- born since 1960
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 89%
- more common than other boys
Nikola vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#1593
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 89% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
35% of everyone ever named Nikola was born in this single decade.
2020
Single peak year
151 babies were named Nikola in 2020 - its busiest year on record.
How Nikola compares
3,444 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
Nikola's all-time total is 9x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Nikola | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 3,444 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 151 | 23 | 22,252 |
Nikola's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Nikola's full recorded timeline at 1994, 85% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 15% in the earlier half -- usage has skewed toward the present, not a one-decade spike. Its quietest year on record was 1960, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 2020 peak of 151 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Nikola at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2020
Current rank
#1,593
Active since
1960
Nikola popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1960–2025
- Peak year (2020)
- 151
- Annual births at peak, across 66 years of records
Nikola popularity over time - girls
658 total births recorded since 1948 (Nikola as girls' name)
Nikola by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Nikola's strongest decade.
1,197 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 35% of all-time use.
Nikola births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 54
1960s
54 births
- 1970s 145
1970s
145 births
- 1980s 192
1980s
192 births
- 1990s 405
1990s
405 births
- 2000s
2000s
692 births
- 2010s
2010s
1,197 births
- 2020s
2020s
759 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 1,197 births (35% of all-time use).
How Nikola 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 Nikola's total volume
Nikola vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Nikola by state
Where Nikola concentrates geographically, total births since 1960
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Illinois | | 445 | 12.9% |
| #2 | California | | 435 | 12.6% |
| #3 | New York | | 217 | 6.3% |
| #4 | Florida | | 172 | 5.0% |
| #5 | Ohio | | 123 | 3.6% |
| #6 | Texas | | 113 | 3.3% |
| #7 | Michigan | | 44 | 1.3% |
| #8 | Arizona | | 33 | 1.0% |
Illinois share of Nikola's total US births 12.9%
Even split
445 of 3,444 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 21 reporting states.
Nikola appears in 21 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Nikola? ▼
Since 1960, Social Security records show 3,444 babies named Nikola. Today it holds rank #1593 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2020, with 151 births.
When was Nikola most popular? ▼
Nikola was most popular in the 2010s decade with 1,197 total births. The single peak year was 2020.
Where is Nikola most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Nikola are Illinois (445 births), California (435 births), New York (217 births).
Is Nikola a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Nikola is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 3,444 births, and as a girl's name it has 658 births.
How long has the name Nikola been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Nikola since 1960 -- 66 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Nikola? ▼
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 Nikola's data
- Nikola's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (1,197 total births) through the 2020s (759) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Illinois records the most Nikolas (445 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Illinois 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 Nikola
Nearby Names Like Nikola
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nikola
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 Nikola side by side: Nikola vs Nikolas Nikola vs Niko Nikola vs Nikolai
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Nikola
Keller #1592
3,702 births · Peak 2012
Atreyu #1594
2,705 births · Peak 2018
Henri #1591
5,328 births · Peak 2021
Armaan #1595
3,427 births · Peak 2009
Todd #1590
282,330 births · Peak 1964
Zaidyn #1596
1,672 births · Peak 2023
Emmet #1589
6,966 births · Peak 2015
Bentlee #1597
4,202 births · Peak 2012
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, 1960–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Nikola: #1593 Unisex Name - 3,444 Births, Peak 2020." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/nikola. 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 Nikola 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.