Total births
2,656
Boys' name · since 1955
Nikolaus
Nikolaus has 2,656 recorded births since 1955 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1994 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #3630
- among boys today
- 2,656
- born since 1955
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 75%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Nikolaus is the #3630 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 2,656 recorded since 1955.
Social Security Administration records show Nikolaus recorded 2,656 times among boys since 1955, holding rank #3630 nationally today, ahead of 75% of boys, peaking in the 1990s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1955 to 2025.
- #3630 among boys today
- 2,656 born since 1955
- 1990s peak decade
- 75% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Nikolaus is currently the #3630 boys' name in America, more common than 75% of boys - 2,656 born since 1955, peaking in the 1990s.
- #3630
- among boys today
- 2,656
- born since 1955
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 75%
- more common than other boys
Nikolaus vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#3630
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 75% of names given to boys today.
1990s
Peak decade
31% of everyone ever named Nikolaus was born in this single decade.
1994
Single peak year
98 babies were named Nikolaus in 1994 - its busiest year on record.
How Nikolaus compares
2,656 Top 18% higher than 82% 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
Nikolaus's all-time total is 7x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Nikolaus | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 2,656 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 98 | 23 | 22,252 |
Nikolaus's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Nikolaus's SSA record in two at 1996 and the more recent half accounts for 49% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 51%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1955, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1994 peak of 98, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Nikolaus at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1994
Current rank
#3,630
Active since
1955
Nikolaus popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1955–2025
- Peak year (1994)
- 98
- Annual births at peak, across 71 years of records
Nikolaus by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Nikolaus's strongest decade.
830 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 31% of all-time use.
Nikolaus births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 5
1950s
5 births
- 1960s 22
1960s
22 births
- 1970s 198
1970s
198 births
- 1980s
1980s
617 births
- 1990s
1990s
830 births
- 2000s
2000s
539 births
- 2010s 297
2010s
297 births
- 2020s 148
2020s
148 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 830 births (31% of all-time use).
How Nikolaus 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 Nikolaus's total volume
Nikolaus vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Nikolaus by state
Where Nikolaus concentrates geographically, total births since 1955
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 314 | 11.8% |
| #2 | Texas | | 105 | 4.0% |
| #3 | New York | | 51 | 1.9% |
| #4 | Pennsylvania | | 49 | 1.8% |
| #5 | Florida | | 37 | 1.4% |
| #6 | Michigan | | 35 | 1.3% |
| #7 | Wisconsin | | 32 | 1.2% |
| #8 | Illinois | | 26 | 1.0% |
California share of Nikolaus's total US births 11.8%
Even split
314 of 2,656 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 17 reporting states.
Nikolaus appears in 17 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Nikolaus? ▼
2,656 babies have been named Nikolaus since 1955. It currently ranks #3630 among boys. The peak year was 1994 with 98 births.
When was Nikolaus most popular? ▼
Nikolaus was most popular in the 1990s decade with 830 total births. The single peak year was 1994.
Where is Nikolaus most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Nikolaus are California (314 births), Texas (105 births), New York (51 births).
How long has the name Nikolaus been used? ▼
Records for Nikolaus go back to 1955, giving 71 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Nikolaus? ▼
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 Nikolaus's data
- Nikolaus's decade-level peak was the 1990s (830 total births); usage has since declined to 148 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Nikolauss (314 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 Nikolaus
Nearby Names Like Nikolaus
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nikolaus
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 Nikolaus side by side: Nikolaus vs Nikolas Nikolaus vs Niko Nikolaus vs Nikolai
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Nikolaus
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1955–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Nikolaus: #3630 Boys' Name - 2,656 Births, Peak 1994." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/nikolaus. 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 Nikolaus 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 July 2026.