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