What does Nikolai mean?
Nikolai is a Slavic form of Nicholas, “victory of the people.”
What does Yuri mean?
Yuri is the Russian form of George, “farmer” or “earth-worker.”
Nikolai vs Yuri
Which is more popular?
Nikolai is more popular than Yuri today: about 469 US babies were given the name Nikolai in 2025, compared with 88 named Yuri.
| Nikolai | Yuri | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Victory of the people | Farmer |
| Origin | Slavic | Slavic |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | nee-koh-LY | YOO-ree |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1960 | 1961 |
| Peak year | 2016 (639) | 2022 (93) |
| In 2025 | 469 | 88 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Nikolai
Yuri
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Nikolai | Yuri |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 3,057 | 507 |
| 2010s | 5,060 | 629 |
| 2000s | 1,632 | 364 |
| 1990s | 733 | 270 |
| 1980s | 291 | 311 |
| 1970s | 202 | 269 |
| 1960s | 52 | 105 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nikolai or Yuri more popular?
Nikolai is more popular than Yuri today: about 469 US babies were given the name Nikolai in 2025, compared with 88 named Yuri.
What is the difference between Nikolai and Yuri?
Nikolai means Victory of the people (Slavic origin), while Yuri means Farmer (Slavic origin).
Which name is older, Nikolai or Yuri?
In US records, Nikolai first appears in 1960 and Yuri in 1961, so Nikolai has the longer recorded history.