What does Nikolaos mean?
Greek Nikolaos (Nicholas), from 'nike' ('victory') and 'laos' ('people'), i.e. 'victory of the people'. Borne by Saint Nicholas.
What does Christos mean?
Christos means “anointed” in Greek.
Nikolaos vs Christos
Which is more popular?
Christos is more popular than Nikolaos today: about 33 US babies were given the name Christos in 2025, compared with 0 named Nikolaos.
| Nikolaos | Christos | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Victory of the people | Anointed |
| Origin | greek | Greek |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | nee-KOH-lah-os | KREES-tos |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1915 |
| Peak year | 2014 (58) | 1979 (67) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 33 |
| Trend | Steady | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Nikolaos
Christos
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Nikolaos | Christos |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 300 | 180 |
| 2010s | 448 | 386 |
| 2000s | 404 | 463 |
| 1990s | 284 | 374 |
| 1980s | 293 | 458 |
| 1970s | 295 | 485 |
| 1960s | 48 | 226 |
| 1950s | 0 | 93 |
| 1940s | 0 | 57 |
| 1930s | 0 | 51 |
| 1920s | 0 | 86 |
| 1910s | 0 | 31 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nikolaos or Christos more popular?
Christos is more popular than Nikolaos today: about 33 US babies were given the name Christos in 2025, compared with 0 named Nikolaos.
What is the difference between Nikolaos and Christos?
Nikolaos means Victory of the people (greek origin), while Christos means Anointed (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Nikolaos or Christos?
In US records, Nikolaos first appears in 0 and Christos in 1915, so Nikolaos has the longer recorded history.