| Nicolás | Emiliano | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | victory of the people | rival; eager, striving |
| Origin | spanish | spanish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | nee-ko-LAHS | eh-mee-lee-AH-no |
| Syllables | 3 | 4 |
| First appeared | 1882 | 1885 |
| Peak year | 2003 (3,003) | 2025 (3,701) |
| In 2025 | 2,053 | 3,701 |
| Trend | Steady | Near its peak |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Nicolás | Emiliano |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 11,843 | 16,562 |
| 2010s | 21,216 | 16,089 |
| 2000s | 28,267 | 7,739 |
| 1990s | 21,219 | 956 |
| 1980s | 10,268 | 462 |
| 1970s | 3,870 | 471 |
| 1960s | 1,388 | 181 |
| 1950s | 1,041 | 119 |
| 1940s | 694 | 77 |
| 1930s | 567 | 72 |
| 1920s | 749 | 98 |
| 1910s | 367 | 12 |
| 1900s | 51 | 0 |
| 1890s | 19 | 0 |
| 1880s | 26 | 6 |
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.
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.
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.
Nicolás means victory of the people (spanish origin), while Emiliano means rival; eager, striving (spanish origin).
In US records, Nicolás first appears in 1882 and Emiliano in 1885, so Nicolás has the longer recorded history.