Name Nicholas - meaning, origin, numerology

Nicholas or Nikolas or Nicolas or Nickolas is a male given name, derived from the Greek name Νικόλαος (Nikolaos), a combination of the words "victory" (νίκη; níkē, nike, however is probably connected with neikos "quarrel, strife," neikein "to quarrel with") and "people" (λαός; laós). The name can be understood to mean victory of the people. In addition, "laos" or "λαός" in Greek, originates from the word root "-las", as found in the word "λα-τομεῑο" meaning "stone" or "rock" (in Greek Mythology, Deucalion and Pyrrha recreated the people after they had vanished in a catastrophic deluge, by throwing stones behind their shoulders while they kept marching on). The name became popular through Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra in Lycia, the inspiration for Santa Claus. The customary English version of spelling "Nicholas", using an "h", first came into use in the 12th century and has been firmly established since the Reformation, though "Nicolas" is occasionally used. In 2006, Nicholas – and its variations – was the 17th most popular male name given to babies in the United States. Roughly 0.7151% of the baby boys born that year, or 15,414, were given that name. It is decreasing in popularity, from a high in 1997, when 27,248 males in the United States were given the name Nicholas. That year was the most popular year for Nicholas since 1880, when U.S. records were kept for given names.

The Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Anglican Churches celebrate Saint Nicholas every year on December 6, which is the name day for "Nicholas". In Greece, the name and its derivatives are especially popular in maritime regions, as St. Nicholas is considered the protector saint of seafarers.

English and French: from the post-classical Greek personal name Nikolaos, composed of the elements nikē victory + laos people. The spelling with -ch- first occurred as early as the 12th century, and became firmly established at the time of the Reformation, although Nicolas is still occasionally found. St Nicholas was a 4th-century bishop of Myra in Lycia, about whom virtually nothing factual is known, although a vast body of legend grew up around him, and he became the patron saint of Greece and Russia, as well as of children, sailors, merchants, and pawnbrokers. His feast-day is 6 December, and among the many roles which legend has assigned to him is that of bringer of Christmas presents, in the guise of ‘Santa Claus’ (an alteration of the Dutch form of his name, Sinterklaas).
Variant: Nicolas.
Cognates: Scottish: Nicol; Neacal (Gaelic). Irish Gaelic: Nioclas. Italian: Nicola, Nic(c)olò. Spanish: Nicolás, Nicolao. Catalan: Nicolau, Micolau. Portuguese: Nicolau. German: Nikolaus, Niklaus. Scandinavian: Niklas; Nils (Swedish, Norwegian); Niels (Danish). Finnish: Launo. Russian: Nikolai. Polish: Mikolaj. Czech: Mikoláš. Romanian: Nicolae. Hungarian: Miklós. Finnish: Niilo.
Short forms: English: Nick. German: Klaus, Claus. Dutch: Claus.
Pet forms: English: Nicky. Swedish: Nisse. Russian: Kolya.
Feminine forms: English (Latinate): Nicola. French, English: Nicole. Spanish: Nicolasa.

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