What does Federico mean?
Federico is the Italian form of Frederick, “peaceful ruler.”
What does Nicola mean?
Nicola is the Italian form of Nicholas — a boys’ name in Italy, “victory of the people.”
Federico vs Nicola
Which is more popular?
Federico is more popular than Nicola today: about 73 US babies were given the name Federico in 2025, compared with 28 named Nicola.
| Federico | Nicola | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Peaceful ruler | Victory of the people |
| Origin | Italian | Italian |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | feh-deh-REE-koh | nee-KOH-lah |
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1889 | 1908 |
| Peak year | 1976 (148) | 1972 (53) |
| In 2025 | 73 | 28 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Federico
Nicola
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Federico | Nicola |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 437 | 190 |
| 2010s | 700 | 245 |
| 2000s | 1,160 | 349 |
| 1990s | 1,191 | 413 |
| 1980s | 1,176 | 320 |
| 1970s | 1,121 | 441 |
| 1960s | 761 | 335 |
| 1950s | 743 | 159 |
| 1940s | 500 | 84 |
| 1930s | 454 | 85 |
| 1920s | 473 | 188 |
| 1910s | 188 | 197 |
| 1900s | 42 | 6 |
| 1890s | 18 | 0 |
| 1880s | 7 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Federico or Nicola more popular?
Federico is more popular than Nicola today: about 73 US babies were given the name Federico in 2025, compared with 28 named Nicola.
What is the difference between Federico and Nicola?
Federico means Peaceful ruler (Italian origin), while Nicola means Victory of the people (Italian origin).
Which name is older, Federico or Nicola?
In US records, Federico first appears in 1889 and Nicola in 1908, so Federico has the longer recorded history.