Nikolai
Nikolai is a Christian boy name of Greek, via Russian origin, meaning “Victory of the people”.
| Meaning | Victory of the people |
|---|---|
| Gender | Boy |
| Origin | Greek, via Russian |
| Written as | Николай |
| Pronunciation | nee-kah-LYE |
| Tradition | Christian |
| Used in | Russia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Worldwide |
Meaning and origin of Nikolai
Nikolai is the Russian and Bulgarian form of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos, joining nike 'victory' and laos 'people'. It became one of the most common Russian names thanks to the deep veneration of Saint Nicholas in Eastern Orthodoxy. Two Russian emperors were named Nicholas, and cultural figures include the writer Nikolai Gogol and the composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. The familiar Russian diminutive is Kolya.
Is Nikolai a Christian name?
Nikolai is a Christian name honouring Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, bishop of Myra, one of the most beloved saints in the Orthodox world.
How popular is Nikolai?
Traditional and common in Russia and Bulgaria, and used occasionally elsewhere for its Slavic flavour.
Gifts with the name Nikolai
- Nikolai name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Nikolai baby gifts (Amazon)
- Christian baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Nikolai
Names similar to Nikolai
More Christian boy names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nikolai mean?
Nikolai means 'Victory of the people'. It is of Greek, via Russian origin.
Is Nikolai a Christian name?
Nikolai is a Christian name honouring Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, bishop of Myra, one of the most beloved saints in the Orthodox world.
How do you pronounce Nikolai?
Nikolai is pronounced nee-kah-LYE.
Is Nikolai a boy or girl name?
Nikolai is usually a boy name.