Nikolai is an established boys' name that peaked in 2016 and remains in steady use.
Nikolai is a boy name. In 2025 it ranked #605 for boy births in the United States (and #1,228 across all names), given to 469 babies. Nikolai was first reported in SSA data in 1960 and peaked in 2016 (639 births).
| Year | U.S. births | U.S. + territories | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 469 | 469 | #605 |
| 2024 | 484 | 484 | #594 |
| 2023 | 470 | 470 | #604 |
| 2022 | 491 | 491 | #584 |
| 2021 | 622 | 622 | #481 |
| 2020 | 521 | 521 | #545 |
| 2019 | 554 | 554 | #515 |
| 2018 | 614 | 614 | #474 |
| 2017 | 573 | 573 | #507 |
| 2016 | 639 | 639 | #480 |
| 2015 | 629 | 629 | #476 |
| 2014 | 516 | 516 | #540 |
| 2013 | 436 | 436 | #585 |
| 2012 | 421 | 421 | #602 |
| 2011 | 365 | 365 | #640 |
| 2010 | 313 | 313 | #734 |
| 2009 | 299 | 299 | #760 |
| 2008 | 231 | 231 | #903 |
| 2007 | 208 | 208 | #953 |
| 2006 | 163 | 163 | #1,084 |
| 2005 | 162 | 162 | #1,039 |
| 2004 | 141 | 141 | #1,125 |
| 2003 | 124 | 124 | #1,194 |
| 2002 | 116 | 116 | #1,203 |
| 2001 | 108 | 108 | #1,239 |
| 2000 | 80 | 80 | #1,513 |
| 1999 | 95 | 95 | #1,288 |
| 1998 | 94 | 94 | #1,284 |
| 1997 | 76 | — | #1,434 |
| 1996 | 82 | — | #1,330 |
| 1995 | 68 | — | #1,451 |
| 1994 | 76 | — | #1,343 |
| 1993 | 63 | — | #1,488 |
| 1992 | 62 | — | #1,483 |
| 1991 | 65 | — | #1,421 |
| 1990 | 52 | — | #1,604 |
| 1989 | 46 | — | #1,698 |
| 1988 | 37 | — | #1,840 |
| 1987 | 31 | — | #2,009 |
| 1986 | 29 | — | #2,041 |
| 1985 | 32 | — | #1,857 |
| 1984 | 27 | — | #2,021 |
| 1983 | 18 | — | #2,641 |
| 1982 | 21 | — | #2,395 |
| 1981 | 24 | — | #2,178 |
| 1980 | 26 | — | #2,098 |
| 1979 | 28 | — | #1,929 |
| 1978 | 16 | — | #2,759 |
| 1977 | 24 | — | #2,046 |
| 1976 | 32 | — | #1,669 |
| 1975 | 31 | — | #1,651 |
| 1974 | 21 | — | #2,094 |
| 1973 | 12 | — | #2,971 |
| 1972 | 16 | — | #2,394 |
| 1971 | 12 | — | #2,926 |
| 1970 | 10 | — | #3,208 |
| 1969 | 15 | — | #2,277 |
| 1966 | 5 | — | #4,356 |
| 1965 | 8 | — | #3,169 |
| 1964 | 8 | — | #3,213 |
| 1962 | 5 | — | #4,467 |
| 1961 | 5 | — | #4,474 |
| 1960 | 6 | — | #3,940 |