What does Xander mean?
Xander is a short form of Alexander, “defender of the people.”
What does Nikolas mean?
Nikolas means “victory of the people,” the Greek root of Nicholas.
Xander vs Nikolas
Which is more popular?
Xander is more popular than Nikolas today: about 1,335 US babies were given the name Xander in 2025, compared with 375 named Nikolas.
| Xander | Nikolas | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Defender of the people | Victory of the people |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | ZAN-der | NIK-oh-lus |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1990 | 1937 |
| Peak year | 2017 (2,414) | 2004 (1,060) |
| In 2025 | 1,335 | 375 |
| Trend | Rising | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Xander
Nikolas
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Xander | Nikolas |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 10,693 | 2,564 |
| 2010s | 19,317 | 5,133 |
| 2000s | 9,909 | 7,812 |
| 1990s | 362 | 5,946 |
| 1980s | 0 | 1,955 |
| 1970s | 0 | 502 |
| 1960s | 0 | 107 |
| 1950s | 0 | 5 |
| 1940s | 0 | 5 |
| 1930s | 0 | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Xander or Nikolas more popular?
Xander is more popular than Nikolas today: about 1,335 US babies were given the name Xander in 2025, compared with 375 named Nikolas.
What is the difference between Xander and Nikolas?
Xander means Defender of the people (Greek origin), while Nikolas means Victory of the people (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Xander or Nikolas?
In US records, Xander first appears in 1990 and Nikolas in 1937, so Nikolas has the longer recorded history.