Fun Facts About the Name Nika
- More than 2 thousand babies named Nika: U.S. records list 2,499 babies given the name Nika from 1880 through 2025. Even 5 boys received the name Nika - about 1 boy for every 499 girls.
What Does the Name Nika Mean?
Nika has more than one independent origin, so its meaning depends on the tradition it comes from. In Greek, the name Νίκη (Níkē) means "victory" and comes from the verb νικάω (nikaō), "to conquer, to win." The Latin-alphabet spelling Nika is one transliteration of that Greek name. The Persian name نیکا is a separate name, formed from the word نیک (nik), "good," and used as a girl's name in Iran.
In most Slavic languages, Nika is not a name with its own meaning but a short form of longer names: it serves as a pet form of Veronika, the Slavic form of Veronica, and of feminine names built on Nicholas, such as Nikolina. In Georgian, the same short form is masculine and stands for Nikoloz (Nicholas), a Greek-derived name meaning "victory of the people."
Nika Name History & Origins
The Greek Νίκη is an ancient word and name. In Hesiod's Theogony, Nike is a daughter of the river Styx, and she was also worshipped as the goddess of victory, with a well-known temple on the Acropolis of Athens. The same element appears in Greek compound names such as Nikolaos and Nikephoros, and in English the goddess is normally called Nike rather than Nika.
Among Slavic speakers - in Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, and North Macedonia - Nika came into use chiefly as a short form of Veronika and of names such as Nikolina, and in Slovenia and Croatia it is also given as an independent name rather than only as a nickname. In Georgia, Nika is an established masculine short form of Nikoloz.
In Iran, نیکا is used as a female given name taken from the Persian word for "good," a word that also appears in other Persian names. The Russian film award Nika, founded in 1987, is named after the Greek goddess of victory.
How Popular is the Name Nika?
Nika has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2017. Its best rank was #2,377 in 2017.
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 | #3,200 | 50 | 0.0031% |
| 2024 | #3,149 | 51 | 0.0032% |
| 2023 | #2,810 | 61 | 0.0038% |
| 2022 | #2,885 | 59 | 0.0036% |
| 2021 | #2,629 | 66 | 0.0040% |
| 2020 | #2,809 | 59 | 0.0037% |
| 2019 | #2,393 | 75 | 0.0045% |
| 2018 | #2,832 | 60 | 0.0035% |
| 2017 | #2,377 | 77 | 0.0045% |
| 2016 | #2,637 | 67 | 0.0038% |
| 2015 | #2,639 | 68 | 0.0038% |
| 2014 | #2,461 | 74 | 0.0041% |
| 2013 | #2,589 | 69 | 0.0039% |
| 2012 | #3,079 | 55 | 0.0031% |
| 2011 | #2,936 | 59 | 0.0034% |
| 2010 | #2,608 | 70 | 0.0039% |
| 2009 | #2,544 | 74 | 0.0040% |
| 2008 | #2,881 | 62 | 0.0033% |
| 2007 | #2,956 | 61 | 0.0032% |
| 2006 | #3,838 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 2005 | #2,995 | 54 | 0.0029% |
| 2004 | #3,551 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 2003 | #3,170 | 47 | 0.0026% |
| 2002 | #3,573 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 2001 | #5,507 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2000 | #3,498 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 1999 | #3,174 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 1998 | #3,802 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 1997 | #2,861 | 43 | 0.0025% |
| 1996 | #2,702 | 46 | 0.0026% |
| 1995 | #2,672 | 46 | 0.0026% |
| 1994 | #2,427 | 53 | 0.0030% |
| 1993 | #2,806 | 43 | 0.0024% |
| 1992 | #3,253 | 35 | 0.0019% |
| 1991 | #2,439 | 52 | 0.0028% |
| 1990 | #2,425 | 51 | 0.0027% |
| 1989 | #2,557 | 45 | 0.0024% |
| 1988 | #2,432 | 45 | 0.0025% |
| 1987 | #2,698 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 1986 | #3,106 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1985 | #4,084 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1984 | #3,489 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1983 | #3,043 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 1982 | #4,663 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1981 | #3,592 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1980 | #3,189 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1979 | #3,866 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1978 | #3,873 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1977 | #2,758 | 30 | 0.0020% |
| 1976 | #2,642 | 30 | 0.0020% |
| 1975 | #3,025 | 24 | 0.0016% |
| 1974 | #3,398 | 20 | 0.0014% |
| 1973 | #3,428 | 19 | 0.0013% |
| 1972 | #4,234 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1971 | #3,460 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1970 | #3,534 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1969 | #3,913 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1968 | #5,495 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1967 | #7,527 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1966 | #4,395 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #7,482 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #6,357 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | #12,201 | 5 | 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 Nika 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.
Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society. You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values. You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish "The Impossible Dream". With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others. You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.
✦ Nika's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Nika's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.