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Nicolas

Boy name · 375 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Nicolas: 375 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 16 births in 2013.

Of Greek origin, Nicolas is a variant spelling of Nicholas, from the Greek name Nikolaos, composed of *nike* (victory) and *laos* (people), meaning "victory of the people." One of the most famous bearers is the 4th-century Saint Nicholas, a bishop known for his generosity who inspired the figure of Santa Claus. The 16th-century French explorer Nicolas Durand de Villegagnon led a failed colony in Brazil, while the astronomer Nicolas Copernicus revolutionised science with his heliocentric model. The name's most notable place connection is Saint Nicholas, an island in the Azores named after the saint. While the standard spelling "Nicholas" is more common in Scotland, the Nicolas variant has a distinctly European, particularly French, flavour.