Nico Boy

Popularity: #172 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: NEE-koh /ˈniːkoʊ/

Origin: Greek; Italian; Spanish

Meaning: Greek: Victory of the people; Italian: Short form of Nicola; Spanish: Short form of Nicolás

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Nico is derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, which means "victory of the people" (from the elements "nikē," meaning "victory," and "laos," meaning "people"). The name Nikolaos was borne by several early Christian saints, the most notable being Saint Nicholas of Myra, who lived in the 4th century.

His legacy as a benevolent figure contributed to the name's popularity throughout the Byzantine Empire and later in Western Europe, particularly during the Middle Ages. The name underwent various transformations as it spread across different cultures, eventually leading to the shortened form Nico, which became popular in its own right.

In the context of historical milestones, Saint Nicholas was canonized and became the patron saint of children, sailors, and merchants, among others. His feast day is celebrated on December 6, and he is often associated with gift-giving, which laid the groundwork for modern Christmas traditions.

The name Nikolaos was translated into Latin as Nicolaus, which influenced its adoption in various languages, including Italian and Spanish, where forms like Nicola and Nicolás emerged. The name Nico likely gained traction as a diminutive or affectionate form of these longer variants, particularly in Italian and other Romance languages.

Culturally, the name Nico has resonated through various artistic and literary works, often symbolizing youthful vigor and a connection to heritage. It has been used in literature and music, further embedding it in cultural consciousness.

The name's association with Saint Nicholas also imbues it with connotations of generosity and kindness, traits that have contributed to its lasting appeal. The diminutive Nico, while modern in its usage, carries with it the weight of its historical roots and the legacy of its longer forms.

Famous people named Nico

In this section, you will find notable people named Nico. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Nico who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Nico who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Nico is a singer and songwriter best known for her work with The Velvet Underground, her solo album Chelsea Girl, and her song These Days.

Nico Rosberg is a former racing driver best known for winning the Formula One World Championship in 2016.

Nico Hulkenberg is a racing driver best known for his time in Formula One with teams like Force India and Renault.

Fictional characters named Nico

The following list of fictional characters named Nico is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Nico Minoru is a fictional character from the comic book series Runaways. She is a powerful sorceress and a member of a group of teenagers who discover their parents are supervillains.

Nico di Angelo is a fictional character from the book series Percy Jackson & The Olympians and The Heroes of Olympus. He is a son of Hades who plays a significant role in the quests undertaken by the demigod heroes.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Nico, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

LeoMiloTheoLucaArloJasper

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Nico. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

NikoNiallNashNateNoahNolanNiven

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Nico was first seen in the United States in 1960.

Nico has ranked as high as #321 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in California, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Texas.

In the past 5 years the name Nico has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Nico is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Nico was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Nico.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 2,096 2,066 30
2024 1,721 1,686 35
2023 1,502 1,468 34
2022 1,506 1,474 32
2021 1,394 1,359 35
2020 1,081 1,045 36
2019 973 929 44
2018 877 844 33
2017 794 755 39
2016 642 611 31
2015 689 652 37
2014 688 651 37
2013 596 567 29
2012 525 501 24
2011 566 530 36
2010 463 422 41
2009 497 452 45
2008 406 366 40
2007 371 348 23
2006 358 342 16
2005 299 273 26
2004 307 282 25
2003 258 238 20
2002 262 248 14
2001 199 193 6
2000 190 190 0
1999 211 202 9
1998 174 164 10
1997 175 158 17
1996 158 158 0
1995 201 193 8
1994 208 203 5
1993 227 221 6
1992 290 283 7
1991 268 259 9
1990 275 266 9
1989 323 315 8
1988 101 96 5
1987 10 10 0
1986 15 10 5
1985 11 11 0
1984 18 18 0
1983 21 16 5
1982 11 11 0
1981 16 11 5
1980 19 11 8
1979 11 11 0
1978 13 13 0
1977 26 19 7
1976 29 18 11
1975 22 10 12
1974 17 9 8
1973 31 13 18
1972 29 14 15
1971 37 15 22
1970 31 12 19
1969 29 11 18
1968 17 10 7
1967 14 7 7
1966 6 6 0
1963 12 12 0
1960 6 6 0

Top States for Nico (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 240
14%
NY 166
10%
TX 130
8%
NJ 123
7%
PA 100
6%
FL 98
6%
IL 75
5%
OH 55
3%
MA 53
3%
MI 46
3%
NC 40
2%
CO 39
2%
WA 39
2%
VA 37
2%
CT 34
2%
GA 28
2%
AZ 26
2%
NV 22
1%
UT 22
1%
MN 22
1%
WI 22
1%
MD 21
1%
MO 20
1%
OR 19
1%
SC 18
1%
TN 17
1%
KY 15
1%
IA 14
1%
IN 14
1%
LA 13
1%
DC 12
1%
NM 11
1%
KS 11
1%
OK 10
1%
AL 9
1%
DE 9
1%
RI 9
1%
NH 7
0%
HI 7
0%
NE 6
0%
WV 6
0%