| Emiliano | Nicolás | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | rival; eager, striving | victory of the people |
| Origin | spanish | spanish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | eh-mee-lee-AH-no | nee-ko-LAHS |
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1885 | 1882 |
| Peak year | 2025 (3,701) | 2003 (3,003) |
| In 2025 | 3,701 | 2,053 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Steady |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Emiliano | Nicolás |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 16,562 | 11,843 |
| 2010s | 16,089 | 21,216 |
| 2000s | 7,739 | 28,267 |
| 1990s | 956 | 21,219 |
| 1980s | 462 | 10,268 |
| 1970s | 471 | 3,870 |
| 1960s | 181 | 1,388 |
| 1950s | 119 | 1,041 |
| 1940s | 77 | 694 |
| 1930s | 72 | 567 |
| 1920s | 98 | 749 |
| 1910s | 12 | 367 |
| 1900s | 0 | 51 |
| 1890s | 0 | 19 |
| 1880s | 6 | 26 |
The Spanish form of the Latin Aemilianus, derived from the Roman family name Aemilius, which is generally linked to the Latin aemulus 'rival, emulating, striving'. Spread in the Hispanic world partly through the Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata.
The Spanish form of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos, combining nike 'victory' and laos 'people'. Popularized by Saint Nicholas of Myra, the 4th-century bishop who became the basis for Santa Claus.
Emiliano is more popular than Nicolás today: about 3,701 US babies were given the name Emiliano in 2025, compared with 2,053 named Nicolás.
Emiliano means rival; eager, striving (spanish origin), while Nicolás means victory of the people (spanish origin).
In US records, Emiliano first appears in 1885 and Nicolás in 1882, so Nicolás has the longer recorded history.