What does Boris mean?
Boris is usually linked to the Slavic for “battle” or “fight.”
What does Nikolai mean?
Nikolai is a Slavic form of Nicholas, “victory of the people.”
Boris vs Nikolai
Which is more popular?
Nikolai is more popular than Boris today: about 469 US babies were given the name Nikolai in 2025, compared with 37 named Boris.
| Boris | Nikolai | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Battle, fight | Victory of the people |
| Origin | Slavic | Slavic |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | BOR-iss | nee-koh-LY |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1911 | 1960 |
| Peak year | 1970 (82) | 2016 (639) |
| In 2025 | 37 | 469 |
| Trend | Declining | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Boris
Nikolai
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Boris | Nikolai |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 230 | 3,057 |
| 2010s | 507 | 5,060 |
| 2000s | 581 | 1,632 |
| 1990s | 603 | 733 |
| 1980s | 401 | 291 |
| 1970s | 481 | 202 |
| 1960s | 597 | 52 |
| 1950s | 287 | 0 |
| 1940s | 111 | 0 |
| 1930s | 237 | 0 |
| 1920s | 373 | 0 |
| 1910s | 213 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Boris or Nikolai more popular?
Nikolai is more popular than Boris today: about 469 US babies were given the name Nikolai in 2025, compared with 37 named Boris.
What is the difference between Boris and Nikolai?
Boris means Battle, fight (Slavic origin), while Nikolai means Victory of the people (Slavic origin).
Which name is older, Boris or Nikolai?
In US records, Boris first appears in 1911 and Nikolai in 1960, so Boris has the longer recorded history.