Fun Facts About the Name Nico
- More than 22 thousand babies named Nico: U.S. records list 22,308 babies given the name Nico from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,028 girls received the name Nico - about 1 girl for every 21 boys.
What Does the Name Nico Mean?
Nico is chiefly a short form of Nicholas and its equivalents in other European languages, and it takes its meaning from that older name: "victory of the people." The name behind it is the Greek Nikolaos (Νικόλαος), formed from nikē (νίκη), "victory," and laos (λαός), "people." That pairing is normally translated literally, though it is sometimes smoothed into "people's victory." Nikolaos passed into Latin as Nicolaus and then into the vernaculars of Europe, and the clipped form Nico arose in Italian, German, Dutch, and neighboring speech communities as a familiar shortening.
The meaning depends on which full name the short form stands for. In Italian it usually shortens Nicola or Niccolò, in Spanish Nicolás, in Portuguese Nicolau, and in Dutch and German Nicolaas and Nikolaus - all continuations of Nicholas. As a girl's name it is a shortening of Nicole, the French feminine of Nicolas, so the root meaning is unchanged. In parts of Italy, though, Nico also serves as a short form of Domenico, which comes from Latin dominicus, "of the Lord," and shares nothing with the Greek elements above.
The Greek short form of Nikolaos is Nikos (Νίκος), and Greek uses Niko (Νίκο) as the vocative form when addressing someone. The spelling Nico follows Italian and German conventions, in which the letter c in this name stands for the sound of English "k"; English speakers read it the same way.
Nico Name History & Origins
The elements of the name are ancient, but Nico as a written short form is much later. Nikolaos was a common name in the Greek world. Saint Nicholas, bishop of Myra in Asia Minor in the fourth century, gave the name its lasting prominence in Christian Europe. His cult spread first through the eastern Mediterranean and later through western Europe, and his name took local shapes: Latin Nicolaus, Italian Nicola and Niccolò, French Nicolas, German Nikolaus, Dutch Nicolaas, English Nicholas. The legends of his secret gift-giving and his role as protector of children and sailors made the name common, and the Dutch and German forms of the name lie behind the figure of Santa Claus.
Short forms grew up alongside the full names. Greek used Nikos; Italian used Nico, Nino, and Cola; Dutch used Klaas and Nico; German used Klaus and Nico. At first such forms were familiar bynames used among family and friends, but over time many became independent given names, and Nico is now widely used as a full first name in its own right rather than only as a nickname.
As a feminine name, Nico belongs to Nicole, the French feminine form of Nicolas. In Germany, Nico is given to boys and girls, while in Italian, Dutch, and Spanish it is generally masculine. The German singer Nico, born Christa Päffgen, used the name professionally from the 1960s and is among its best-known bearers; her stage name drew on a name already in use rather than creating it.
How Popular is the Name Nico?
Nico recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2025. Its best rank was #174 in 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,633 | 30 | 0.0019% |
| 2024 | #4,165 | 35 | 0.0022% |
| 2023 | #4,253 | 34 | 0.0021% |
| 2022 | #4,440 | 32 | 0.0020% |
| 2021 | #4,149 | 35 | 0.0021% |
| 2020 | #3,984 | 36 | 0.0022% |
| 2019 | #3,538 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 2018 | #4,318 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2017 | #3,899 | 39 | 0.0023% |
| 2016 | #4,602 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 2015 | #4,049 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 2014 | #4,083 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 2013 | #4,850 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 2012 | #5,674 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2011 | #4,131 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 2010 | #3,795 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 2009 | #3,604 | 45 | 0.0024% |
| 2008 | #3,988 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 2007 | #6,036 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2006 | #7,759 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2005 | #5,070 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2004 | #5,170 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2003 | #5,979 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2002 | #7,719 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2001 | #14,821 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #10,094 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #9,086 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1997 | #5,804 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1995 | #10,232 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #15,047 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #12,941 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #11,329 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #9,129 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1990 | #9,007 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #9,380 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #13,241 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #12,220 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #11,449 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1981 | #11,588 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #7,899 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #8,141 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #5,469 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1975 | #5,063 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1974 | #6,670 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1973 | #3,590 | 18 | 0.0012% |
| 1972 | #4,030 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1971 | #3,122 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1970 | #3,397 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1969 | #3,285 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1968 | #6,060 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1967 | #5,873 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #174 | 2,066 | 0.1210% |
| 2024 | #213 | 1,678 | 0.0978% |
| 2023 | #240 | 1,467 | 0.0859% |
| 2022 | #237 | 1,474 | 0.0845% |
| 2021 | #259 | 1,359 | 0.0777% |
| 2020 | #318 | 1,044 | 0.0605% |
| 2019 | #356 | 928 | 0.0517% |
| 2018 | #382 | 844 | 0.0465% |
| 2017 | #413 | 754 | 0.0407% |
| 2016 | #497 | 611 | 0.0322% |
| 2015 | #464 | 652 | 0.0340% |
| 2014 | #455 | 650 | 0.0338% |
| 2013 | #486 | 567 | 0.0300% |
| 2012 | #524 | 501 | 0.0264% |
| 2011 | #494 | 530 | 0.0279% |
| 2010 | #594 | 422 | 0.0220% |
| 2009 | #583 | 452 | 0.0228% |
| 2008 | #662 | 366 | 0.0179% |
| 2007 | #683 | 348 | 0.0168% |
| 2006 | #667 | 342 | 0.0166% |
| 2005 | #740 | 273 | 0.0137% |
| 2004 | #694 | 282 | 0.0142% |
| 2003 | #753 | 238 | 0.0120% |
| 2002 | #717 | 248 | 0.0128% |
| 2001 | #841 | 193 | 0.0099% |
| 2000 | #843 | 190 | 0.0097% |
| 1999 | #780 | 202 | 0.0105% |
| 1998 | #890 | 164 | 0.0086% |
| 1997 | #882 | 158 | 0.0084% |
| 1996 | #872 | 158 | 0.0083% |
| 1995 | #773 | 193 | 0.0101% |
| 1994 | #738 | 203 | 0.0105% |
| 1993 | #698 | 221 | 0.0113% |
| 1992 | #613 | 283 | 0.0142% |
| 1991 | #635 | 259 | 0.0128% |
| 1990 | #621 | 266 | 0.0130% |
| 1989 | #546 | 315 | 0.0157% |
| 1988 | #990 | 96 | 0.0050% |
| 1987 | #4,480 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #4,373 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #4,251 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #2,673 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1983 | #2,878 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1982 | #3,876 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1981 | #3,781 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1980 | #4,043 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1979 | #3,742 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1978 | #3,174 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1977 | #2,431 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1976 | #2,479 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1975 | #3,598 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1974 | #3,747 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1973 | #2,681 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1972 | #2,623 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1971 | #2,519 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1970 | #2,833 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1969 | #2,807 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1968 | #2,858 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1967 | #3,453 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1966 | #3,813 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1963 | #2,500 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1960 | #3,938 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Nico Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a vivid imagination who can bring inspired messages to the world. You like to enjoy the pleasures of life, and when self is overcome, you can rise to the heights. You have an ability to avoid trouble - that is why you often fails to learn from experiences. You are restless, sociable people-oriented, a lover of change, and a seeker of adventure and new thrills. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Nico's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Nico's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.