What does Nicola mean?
Nicola is the Italian form of Nicholas — a boys’ name in Italy, “victory of the people.”
What does Riccardo mean?
Riccardo is the Italian form of Richard, “brave ruler.”
Nicola vs Riccardo
Which is more popular?
Nicola is more popular than Riccardo today: about 28 US babies were given the name Nicola in 2025, compared with 16 named Riccardo.
| Nicola | Riccardo | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Victory of the people | Brave ruler |
| Origin | Italian | Italian |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | nee-KOH-lah | rik-KAR-doh |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1908 | 1913 |
| Peak year | 1972 (53) | 1979 (37) |
| In 2025 | 28 | 16 |
| Trend | Steady | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Nicola
Riccardo
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Nicola | Riccardo |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 190 | 80 |
| 2010s | 245 | 130 |
| 2000s | 349 | 132 |
| 1990s | 413 | 197 |
| 1980s | 320 | 258 |
| 1970s | 441 | 270 |
| 1960s | 335 | 244 |
| 1950s | 159 | 206 |
| 1940s | 84 | 40 |
| 1930s | 85 | 7 |
| 1920s | 188 | 7 |
| 1910s | 197 | 5 |
| 1900s | 6 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nicola or Riccardo more popular?
Nicola is more popular than Riccardo today: about 28 US babies were given the name Nicola in 2025, compared with 16 named Riccardo.
What is the difference between Nicola and Riccardo?
Nicola means Victory of the people (Italian origin), while Riccardo means Brave ruler (Italian origin).
Which name is older, Nicola or Riccardo?
In US records, Nicola first appears in 1908 and Riccardo in 1913, so Nicola has the longer recorded history.