SaveMeaning & History
From the Greek name Νικολαος (Nikolaos) which meant "victory of the people" from Greek νικη (nike) "victory" and λαος (laos) "people". Saint Nicholas was a 4th-century bishop from Anatolia who, according to legend, saved the daughters of a poor man from lives of prostitution. He is the patron saint of children, sailors and merchants, as well as Greece and Russia. He formed the basis for the figure known as Santa Claus (created in the 19th century from Dutch Sinterklaas), the bringer of Christmas presents.Due to the renown of the saint, this name has been widely used in the Christian world. It has been common in England since the 12th century, though it became a bit less popular after the Protestant Reformation. The name has been borne by five popes and two czars of Russia.
Related Names
Other Languages & CulturesNicolaus, Nikolaos Ancient Greek Nikola Basque Nikola, Nikolai, Nikolay Bulgarian Nicolau Catalan Nikola, Nikica, Niko, Nikša Croatian Mikuláš, Mikoláš, Mikula, Nikola Czech Niklas, Nikolaj, Cai, Caj, Claus, Kai, Kaj, Kay, Klaus, Nels, Niels, Nils Danish Nicolaas, Nikolaas, Kai, Klaas, Nick, Nico, Niek Dutch Nikolao, Niĉjo Esperanto Nigul Estonian Niklas, Kai, Klaus, Launo, Niilo, Niko Finnish Nicolas French Kai, Kay, Klaes Frisian Nicolau Galician Nikoloz, Nika, Niko, Nikusha Georgian Niklas, Nikolaus, Claus, Kai, Kay, Klaus, Nickolaus, Nico, Nicolaus, Niko German Niklaus German (Swiss) Nicolaos, Nikolaos, Nik, Nikolas, Nikos Greek Miklós, Kolos, Miksa Hungarian Nioclás Irish Niccolò, Nicola, Nico, Nicolao, Nicolò Italian Nikolajs Latvian Klaos Limburgish Klaas Low German Nikola, Nikolče, Nikolche Macedonian Nikora Maori Nichol, Nicol, Col Medieval English Niklas, Cai, Caj, Kai, Kaj, Kay, Klaus, Nils Norwegian Mikołaj Polish Nicolau, Nico Portuguese Nicolae, Neculai, Nicu, Nicușor Romanian Nikolai, Nikolay, Kolya Russian Neacel, Nichol, Nicol Scottish Nikola, Nikica Serbian Mikuláš Slovak Miklavž, Nikola, Nikolaj, Nik, Niko Slovene Nicolás, Nico Spanish Niklas, Cai, Caj, Claes, Kai, Kaj, Kay, Klas, Nils Swedish Mykola Ukrainian
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Saint Nicholas of Myra Saves Three Innocents by Repin (1888)Categories
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Entry updated December 8, 2017
