Nicholas is of Greek origin, meaning "victory of the people." It is derived from the Greek elements 'nike', meaning victory, and 'laos', meaning people. The name Nicholas has been popular throughout history due to Saint Nicholas, a Christian bishop who was known for his generosity and kindness towards children. In English-speaking countries, the name is often associated with Christmas, as Saint Nicholas is also known as Santa Claus. Variations of this name include Nickolas, Nicholaos, Nikolai, and Nicolás, among others. The name's popularity has waxed and waned over centuries but remains a classic choice for parents today.
Nicholaus is a rare name with only sporadic occurrences between 1978 and 1985, peaking at eight births in 1980. Over this seven-year period, there were a total of twenty-four babies named Nicholaus.