Nicolai is a rare variant of Nikolai that peaked in 2015 and remains in steady use.
Nicolai is a boy name. In 2025 it ranked #2,590 for boy births in the United States (and #5,579 across all names), given to 51 babies. Nicolai first appears in 1962 and peaked in 2015 (78 births).
| Year | U.S. births | U.S. + territories | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 51 | 51 | #2,590 |
| 2024 | 52 | 52 | #2,586 |
| 2023 | 54 | 54 | #2,502 |
| 2022 | 69 | 69 | #2,147 |
| 2021 | 50 | 50 | #2,612 |
| 2020 | 50 | 50 | #2,575 |
| 2019 | 55 | 55 | #2,454 |
| 2018 | 62 | 62 | #2,222 |
| 2017 | 45 | 45 | #2,748 |
| 2016 | 66 | 66 | #2,129 |
| 2015 | 78 | 78 | #1,883 |
| 2014 | 68 | 68 | #2,075 |
| 2013 | 60 | 60 | #2,194 |
| 2012 | 63 | 63 | #2,147 |
| 2011 | 50 | 50 | #2,497 |
| 2010 | 60 | 60 | #2,201 |
| 2009 | 59 | 59 | #2,246 |
| 2008 | 70 | 70 | #2,021 |
| 2007 | 50 | 50 | #2,526 |
| 2006 | 57 | 57 | #2,239 |
| 2005 | 48 | 48 | #2,420 |
| 2004 | 47 | 47 | #2,405 |
| 2003 | 45 | 45 | #2,382 |
| 2002 | 30 | 30 | #3,065 |
| 2001 | 27 | 27 | #3,298 |
| 2000 | 30 | 30 | #2,971 |
| 1999 | 28 | 28 | #2,998 |
| 1998 | 29 | 29 | #2,835 |
| 1997 | 30 | — | #2,662 |
| 1996 | 23 | — | #3,176 |
| 1995 | 41 | — | #2,048 |
| 1994 | 32 | — | #2,432 |
| 1993 | 20 | — | #3,331 |
| 1992 | 23 | — | #2,973 |
| 1991 | 22 | — | #2,963 |
| 1990 | 36 | — | #2,070 |
| 1989 | 26 | — | #2,525 |
| 1988 | 14 | — | #3,650 |
| 1987 | 9 | — | #4,844 |
| 1986 | 16 | — | #3,089 |
| 1985 | 10 | — | #4,253 |
| 1984 | 11 | — | #3,858 |
| 1983 | 15 | — | #3,025 |
| 1982 | 5 | — | #7,057 |
| 1981 | 11 | — | #3,784 |
| 1980 | 8 | — | #4,818 |
| 1979 | 7 | — | #5,205 |
| 1978 | 6 | — | #5,563 |
| 1977 | 7 | — | #4,956 |
| 1976 | 13 | — | #3,047 |
| 1975 | 10 | — | #3,599 |
| 1974 | 5 | — | #5,764 |
| 1969 | 6 | — | #4,271 |
| 1962 | 6 | — | #3,908 |