What does Bogdan mean?
Bogdan means “given by God” in the Slavic languages.
What does Nikolai mean?
Nikolai is a Slavic form of Nicholas, “victory of the people.”
Bogdan vs Nikolai
Which is more popular?
Nikolai is more popular than Bogdan today: about 469 US babies were given the name Nikolai in 2025, compared with 34 named Bogdan.
| Bogdan | Nikolai | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Given by God | Victory of the people |
| Origin | Slavic | Slavic |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | BOG-dahn | nee-koh-LY |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1954 | 1960 |
| Peak year | 2024 (37) | 2016 (639) |
| In 2025 | 34 | 469 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Bogdan
Nikolai
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Bogdan | Nikolai |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 189 | 3,057 |
| 2010s | 249 | 5,060 |
| 2000s | 178 | 1,632 |
| 1990s | 89 | 733 |
| 1980s | 10 | 291 |
| 1970s | 17 | 202 |
| 1960s | 37 | 52 |
| 1950s | 10 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bogdan or Nikolai more popular?
Nikolai is more popular than Bogdan today: about 469 US babies were given the name Nikolai in 2025, compared with 34 named Bogdan.
What is the difference between Bogdan and Nikolai?
Bogdan means Given by God (Slavic origin), while Nikolai means Victory of the people (Slavic origin).
Which name is older, Bogdan or Nikolai?
In US records, Bogdan first appears in 1954 and Nikolai in 1960, so Bogdan has the longer recorded history.