by Nicole Williams

Created on: February 11, 2008

GENDER:
Male

PRONUNCIATION:
- NIK-oh-lus
- NIK-oh-lahs

ETYMOLOGY:
Originally Greek, the name Nicholas means "victorious people" or "people's victory". The name means the same thing in English, French, Italian, and Scottish.

ORIGIN & HISTORY:
- Nicholas was one of the "seven qualified men" in the First Congregational Church.

- Saint Nicholas was born in the third century in the village of Patera, which is located in the southern coast of modern Turkey (at the time this area was Greek). His wealthy parents died when he was very young. He used his inheritance to assist the needy and dedicated his life to serving God. He became the Bishop of Myra at an early age and was also known as the patron saint of Russia and Greece. He became well known throughout the land and the legends of his legacy began and continued well after his death. In Dutch, Saint Nicholas is "Sinte Klass", which later became Santa Claus.

POPULARITY:
The name Nicholas has not been lower than number 201 as far as most popular boy names in the United States since as far back as records were formally kept (1880). The name was at number 201 in 1881. It's all time most popular in the U.S. was between 1995 and 2001, where the name stayed consistently at number 6. In 2006, it was ranked at number 17.

In Canada, the name was most popular, reaching the second most popular name in 1997. In 2005, the name was ranked at number 9.

FACTS:
- There are many days designated as official name days for the name Nicholas. Most of them are in the Roman Catholic Church. They're listed below:
- February 4th, in honor of St. Nicholas Studites
- March 21st, in honor of St. Nicholas von Flue
- March 22nd, in honor of St. Nicholas Owen
- May 15th, in honor of St. Nicholas the Mystic
- June 2nd, in honor of St. Nicholas Peregrinus
- July 9th, in honor of St. Nicholas Pieck and St. Nicholas Poppel
- July 15th, in honor of Blessed Nicholas Dennis
- July 17th, in honor of St. Nicholas, also known as Czar Nicholas II of Russia
- December 5th, in honor of St. Nicholas Tavigli.
- December 6th, in honor of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (Santa Claus)
- December 16th, in honor of St. Nicholas Chrysoberges
- December 23rd, in honor of St. Nicholas Factor

- Also, in Ukraine and in Greece, the name Nicholas is an official Feast Day to honor St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (Santa Claus).

- Tropical Storm Nicholas formed on October 13, 2003 and dissipated on November 1, 2003. It's highest winds were 70 miles per hour. This tropical storm affected Florida

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