What does Andrea mean?
Andrea is the Italian form of Andrew, “manly” — and, unlike in English, a boys’ name in Italy.
What does Nicola mean?
Nicola is the Italian form of Nicholas — a boys’ name in Italy, “victory of the people.”
Andrea vs Nicola
Which is more popular?
Nicola is more popular than Andrea today: about 28 US babies were given the name Nicola in 2025, compared with 16 named Andrea.
| Andrea | Nicola | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Manly, brave | Victory of the people |
| Origin | Italian | Italian |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | ahn-DREH-ah | nee-KOH-lah |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1912 | 1908 |
| Peak year | 1976 (183) | 1972 (53) |
| In 2025 | 16 | 28 |
| Trend | Steady | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Andrea
Nicola
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Andrea | Nicola |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 113 | 190 |
| 2010s | 185 | 245 |
| 2000s | 372 | 349 |
| 1990s | 643 | 413 |
| 1980s | 1,267 | 320 |
| 1970s | 1,547 | 441 |
| 1960s | 1,087 | 335 |
| 1950s | 415 | 159 |
| 1940s | 126 | 84 |
| 1930s | 93 | 85 |
| 1920s | 100 | 188 |
| 1910s | 81 | 197 |
| 1900s | 0 | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Andrea or Nicola more popular?
Nicola is more popular than Andrea today: about 28 US babies were given the name Nicola in 2025, compared with 16 named Andrea.
What is the difference between Andrea and Nicola?
Andrea means Manly, brave (Italian origin), while Nicola means Victory of the people (Italian origin).
Which name is older, Andrea or Nicola?
In US records, Andrea first appears in 1912 and Nicola in 1908, so Nicola has the longer recorded history.