Nicole Girl

Popularity: #296 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ni-KOHL //nɪˈkoʊl//

Origin: French; Greek

Meaning: Victory of the people (French); People's victory (Greek)

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Nicole has its roots in the Greek name Nikolaos, which is composed of the elements 'nikē,' meaning 'victory,' and 'laos,' meaning 'people.' This name was adopted into Latin as Nicolaus and subsequently made its way into Old French as Nicolas. From Old French, it transitioned into the English form Nicole, which emerged as a feminine variant of Nicolas.

The name Nicole has been in use since the Middle Ages, gaining popularity in various European cultures, particularly in France and England. Historically, the name is associated with several notable figures, including Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop of Myra, who became a prominent Christian saint and is often celebrated for his generosity and kindness.

His feast day, December 6, became a significant occasion in many Christian traditions, further embedding the name into cultural consciousness. The name gained additional prominence through the influence of the Renaissance and the Reformation, as biblical translations and hagiographies brought attention to saints and their virtues.

Culturally, Nicole has been embraced in various artistic and literary contexts, often symbolizing grace and strength. The name's association with victory through its etymological roots resonates with themes of triumph and leadership.

In addition, diminutive forms such as Nicolette have also appeared in literature and folklore, enhancing the name's appeal and versatility. Overall, Nicole reflects a rich historical tapestry, embodying both cultural significance and linguistic evolution.

Famous people named Nicole

In this section, you will find notable people named Nicole. 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 Nicole who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Nicole 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.

Nicole Kidman is an actress and producer best known for Moulin Rouge!, The Hours, and Big Little Lies.

Nicole Scherzinger is a singer and television personality best known for her work with The Pussycat Dolls, as well as for her solo career and appearances on The X Factor.

Nicole Richie is a television personality, fashion designer, and author best known for her role on The Simple Life and her fashion brand House of Harlow 1960.

Nicole Polizzi is a television personality best known for her role on Jersey Shore.

Nicole Byer is a comedian and actress best known for her work on Nailed It! and her stand-up comedy specials.

Fictional characters named Nicole

The following list of fictional characters named Nicole 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.

Nicole Watterson is a fictional character from the animated television series The Amazing World of Gumball. She is the mother of Gumball and Darwin, known for her strong personality and protective nature towards her family.

Nicole Bristow is a fictional character from the television series Zoey 101. She is a student at Pacific Coast Academy and serves as a loyal friend to the main character, Zoey Brooks.

Sibling suggestions

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

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Nicole. 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.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Nicole was first seen in the United States in 1937.

Nicole has ranked as high as #25 nationally, which occurred in 1985, and has been most popular in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and New Jersey.

In the past 5 years the name Nicole has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Nicole 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 Nicole was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Nicole (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
CA 153
17%
TX 144
16%
FL 117
13%
NY 64
7%
IL 50
5%
PA 27
3%
NJ 26
3%
AZ 25
3%
GA 24
3%
WA 23
3%
VA 21
2%
UT 20
2%
NC 20
2%
MA 16
2%
CO 16
2%

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 Nicole.

YearBirths
2024961
2023941
2022995
2021954
20201,163
20191,365
20181,429
20171,664
20161,954
20152,116
20142,540
20133,351
20122,661
20112,655
20102,570
20092,770
20083,290
20073,873
20064,322
20054,993
20045,741
20036,235
20026,974
20017,820
20008,562
19999,515
19989,911
199710,744
199611,134
199512,277
199416,011
199316,183
199216,325
199116,047
199017,953
198919,034
198820,314
198720,286
198621,292
198522,967
198422,271
198322,400
198221,706
198120,311
198019,917
197919,509
197817,280
197715,247
197614,452
197514,277
197413,114
197313,922
197215,755
197110,423
197010,691
19697,212
19683,083
19672,776
19662,029
1965898
1964831
1963655
1962565
1961273
1960243
1959205
1958180
1957141
1956153
1955120
1954110
1953120
1952103
195194
195089
194968
194868
194766
194680
194561
194458
194389
194270
194131
194025
193912
19387
19379