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{{Short description|Male given name}}
{{Short description|Male given name}}
{{other uses}}
{{other uses|Nicholas (disambiguation)|Nicolas (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox given name
{{Infobox given name
|name = Nicholas
|name = Nicholas
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|region =
|region =
|origin = [[Greek language|Greek]]
|origin = [[Greek language|Greek]]
|footnotes =
|footnotes =
|derived = {{ubl|{{lang-grc|Νῑκόλᾱος|translit=Nikólaos}}:|From {{lang|grc|νίκη}}, {{lang|grc-Latn|nī́kē}} 'victory' and {{lang|grc|λᾱός}}, {{lang|grc-Latn|lāós}} 'people'}}
|derived = Νικόλαος (''[[Nikolaos]]''), a combination of Greek words "victory" (νίκη; ''nikē'') and "people" (λαός; ''laos'')
|see also=[[Nicolas (given name)|Nicolas]], [[Niccolò]], [[Nikolas]], [[Nickolas]], [[Nicolaas]], [[Niklas]], [[Niklaus (name)|Niklaus]], [[Nicolau]], [[Nicolao]], [[Nikolaos]], [[Nikolay (disambiguation)|Nikolay]], [[Nikolai (disambiguation)|Nikolai]], [[Nicolay (disambiguation)|Nicolay]], [[Nicolae (name)|Nicolae]], [[Nikolaus (given name)|Nikolaus]], [[Nico (given name)|Nico]], [[Nikola]], [[Nicola (name)|Nicola]], [[Nikolla]], [[Nicol]], [[Nikollë]], [[Nicole (given name)|Nicole]], [[Nicolle]], [[Nikos]], [[Nikita (disambiguation)|Nikita]], [[Nicanor (disambiguation)|Nicanor]], [[Nicander]], [[Miklós]]
|related names = [[Miklós]], [[Nicander]], Nicanor, [[Niccolò]], [[Nickolas]], [[Nico (given name)|Nico]], [[Nicol]], [[Nicola (name)|Nicola]], [[Nicolaas]], [[Nicolae (name)|Nicolae]], [[Nicolao]], [[Nicolas (given name)|Nicolas]], [[Nicolau]], Nicolay, [[Nicole (given name)|Nicole]], [[Nicolle]], Nikita, [[Niklas]], [[Nikola]], Nikolai, [[Nikolaos]], [[Nikolas]], [[Nikolaus (given name)|Nikolaus]], [[Nikolla]], [[Nikollë]], [[Nikos]]
|image=File:Gheorghe Tattarescu - Sfantul Nicolae.jpg}}
|image=File:Gheorghe Tattarescu - Sfantul Nicolae.jpg}}
'''Nicholas''' is a male [[given name]], the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], the [[Roman Catholic Church]], and the [[Anglicanism|Anglican Churches]] celebrate [[Saint Nicholas]] every year on December 6, which is the [[name day]] for "Nicholas". In [[Greece]], the name and its derivatives are especially popular in maritime regions, as St. Nicholas is considered the protector saint of seafarers.


'''Nicholas''' is a male [[given name]], the [[Anglophone]] version of an ancient Greek name in use since antiquity, and cognate with the modern Greek {{lang|el|Νικόλαος}}, {{transl|el|[[Nikolaos]]}}. It originally derived from a combination of two [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] words meaning 'victory' and 'people'.
In Scotland, until the late nineteenth century, fishing communities used Nicholas as a female name.<ref>https://www.whatsinaname.net/female-names/Nicholas.html</ref>

The name has been widely used in countries with significant Christian populations, owing in part to the veneration of [[Saint Nicholas]], which became increasingly prominent in Western Europe from the 11th century. Revered as a saint in many Christian denominations, the [[Eastern Orthodox]], [[Catholic]], and [[Anglican Church]]es all celebrate [[Saint Nicholas Day]] on December 6. In maritime regions throughout Europe, the name and its derivatives have been especially popular, as St Nicholas is considered the protector saint of seafarers. This remains particularly so in [[Greece]], where St Nicholas is the patron saint of the [[Hellenic Navy]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Greece |url=https://www.stnicholascenter.org/around-the-world/customs/greece |website=St. Nicholas Center |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214230902/https://www.stnicholascenter.org/around-the-world/customs/greece |archive-date=27 December 2022 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=English |first1=Adam C. |title=The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus: The true life and trials of Nicholas of Myra |date=2012 |publisher=Baylor University Press |location=Waco, Texas (USA) |isbn=978-1-60258-634-5 |pages=165–191 |url=https://archive.org/details/saintwhowouldbes0000engl/page/172/mode/2up |chapter=Death Is Only the Beginning}}</ref>


== Origins ==
== Origins ==
The name is derived from the [[Greek language|Greek]] name Νικόλαος (''[[Nikolaos]]''),<ref>{{Cite news |title=Saint Nicholas: The story behind the legendary figure that inspired the modern-day Santa |language=en |work=Newshub |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2022/12/saint-nicholas-the-story-behind-the-legendary-figure-that-inspired-the-modern-day-santa.html |access-date=2023-01-02}}</ref> understood to mean 'victory of the people', being a compound of νίκη ''nikē'' 'victory'<ref>{{LSJ|ni/kh1|νίκη|ref}}.</ref> and λαός ''laos'' 'people'.<ref name="laos">{{LSJ|lao/s1|λαός|shortref}}.</ref> An ancient<ref name="laos" /> [[paretymology]] of the latter is that originates from λᾶς ''las'' ([[Synaeresis|contracted form]] of λᾶας ''laas'') meaning 'stone' or 'rock',<ref>{{LSJ|la{{=}}as|λᾶας|shortref}}.</ref> as in [[Greek mythology]], [[Deucalion]] and [[Pyrrha]] recreated the people after they had vanished in a catastrophic [[Deluge myth|deluge]], by throwing stones behind their shoulders while they kept marching on.
The name derives from the {{lang-grc|Νῑκόλᾱος|translit=Nikólaos}}.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Saint Nicholas: The story behind the legendary figure that inspired the modern-day Santa |language=en |work=Newshub |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2022/12/saint-nicholas-the-story-behind-the-legendary-figure-that-inspired-the-modern-day-santa.html |access-date=2023-01-02}}</ref> It is understood to mean 'victory of the people', being a compound of two Greek words, {{lang|grc|νίκη}}, {{lang|grc-Latn|nī́kē}} 'victory'<ref>{{LSJ|ni/kh1|νίκη|ref}}.</ref> and {{lang|grc|λᾱός}}, {{lang|grc-Latn|lāós}} 'people'.<ref name="laos">{{LSJ|lao/s1|λαός|shortref}}.</ref> An ancient<ref name="laos" /> [[paretymology]] (a false etymology) of the latter element, {{lang|grc|λᾱός}}, is that it originates from {{lang|grc|λᾶς}}, {{transl|grc|lâs}} (a [[Synaeresis|contracted form]] of {{lang|grc|λᾶας}}, {{transl|grc|lâas}}), meaning 'stone' or 'rock'.<ref>{{LSJ|la{{=}}as|λᾶας|shortref}}.</ref> This is in reference to the story of [[Deucalion]] and [[Pyrrha]] from [[Greek mythology]]. As the sole survivors of [[Deluge myth|a catastrophic deluge]], they were able to repopulate the world by throwing stones behind them, over their shoulders, while they kept marching on. The stones formed men and women where they landed.
The name became popular through [[Saint Nicholas]], Bishop of [[Myra]] in [[Lycia]], the inspiration for [[Santa Claus]], but it predates said Bishop by several centuries: the Athenian historian [[Thucydides]] for example, mentions that in the second year of the [[Peloponnesian War]] (431–404 BC) between Sparta and Athens, the Spartans sent a delegation to the Persian king to ask for his help to fight the Athenians; a certain Nikolaos was one of the delegates.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0247:book=2:chapter=67&highlight=nicolaus |title=History of the Peloponnesian War |author=Thucydides |chapter=2.67}} At the [[Perseus Project]] digital library.</ref>
The name became popular through [[Saint Nicholas]], Bishop of [[Myra]] in [[Lycia]], the inspiration for [[Santa Claus]], but it predates said bishop by several centuries: the Athenian historian [[Thucydides]] for example, mentions that in the second year of the [[Peloponnesian War]] (431–404 BC) between Sparta and Athens, the Spartans sent a delegation to the Persian king to ask for his help to fight the Athenians; a certain Nikolaos was one of the delegates.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0247:book=2:chapter=67&highlight=nicolaus |title=History of the Peloponnesian War |author=Thucydides |chapter=2.67}} At the [[Perseus Project]] digital library.</ref>

⚫
The customary English spelling ''Nicholas'', using a ''[[Ch (digraph)|ch]]'', as though the word were spelled in Greek with a [[Chi (letter)|chi]], first came into use in the 12th century and has been firmly established since the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]], although the spelling ''Nicolas'' is occasionally used.{{cn|date=June 2023}}


In Scotland, until the late nineteenth century, fishing communities used Nicholas as a female name.<ref>{{cite web |title=Details for the forename Nicholas |url=https://www.whatsinaname.net/female-names/Nicholas.html |website=www.whatsinaname.net}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Forenames: Ambiguous names |url=https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/guides/research-guides/forenames |website=ScotlandsPeople |publisher=Gov.UK |quote=Names that, today, we would normally associate with boys were occasionally (mainly in the North of Scotland) given to girls and vice versa, for example, Nicholas.}}
⚫
The customary English spelling ''Nicholas'', using a ''[[Ch (digraph)|ch]]'', as though the word were spelled in Greek with a [[Chi (letter)|chi]], first came into use in the 12th century and has been firmly established since the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]], although the spelling ''Nicolas'' is occasionally used.
* For an example of such use for females, see this description of a 1754 case of an executed woman, Nicholas Cockburn: {{cite book |last1=Bennett |first1=Rachel E. |title=Capital Punishment and the Criminal Corpse in Scotland, 1740–1834 |date=December 2017 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |chapter-url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK481730/ |language=en |chapter=Scottish Women and the Hangman's Noose}}</ref>


==Male variations==
==Male variations==
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*{{lang-pl|[[Mikołaj]], Mikołajek, Nikolas, Mik}}
*{{lang-pl|[[Mikołaj]], Mikołajek, Nikolas, Mik}}
*{{lang-pt|Nicolau, Nícolas, Nicola}}
*{{lang-pt|Nicolau, Nícolas, Nicola}}
*{{lang-ro|[[Nicolae (name)|Nicolae]], [[Nicușor]], Nicoară(old variant inherited from Latin), Neculai, Niculae, [[Nicu]]}}
*{{lang-ro|[[Nicolae (name)|Nicolae]], [[Nicușor]], Nicoară (old variant inherited from Latin), Neculai, Niculae, [[Nicu]]}}
*{{lang-ru|Николай (Nikolai), Коля (Kolya)}}
*{{lang-ru|Николай (Nikolai), Коля (Kolya)}}
*{{lang-gd|Neacel, Nichol, Nicol, Caelan, Calen}}
*{{lang-gd|Neacel, Nichol, Nicol, Caelan, Calen}}
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*{{lang-sv|Nels, Niklas, Niclas, Nicklas, Nils, Klas, Claes}}
*{{lang-sv|Nels, Niklas, Niclas, Nicklas, Nils, Klas, Claes}}
*{{lang-to|Nikolasi}}
*{{lang-to|Nikolasi}}
*{{lang-tt-Cyrl|Микулай}} ({{lang|tt-Latn|Miqulay}})<ref>.[http://www.turukdergisi.com/Makaleler/551162954_13.Z.Kirillova%2064-70.pdf Makaleler]. ''Turuk Dergisi''.</ref>
*{{lang-tt-Cyrl|Микулай}} ({{lang|tt-Latn|Miqulay}})<ref>[http://www.turukdergisi.com/Makaleler/551162954_13.Z.Kirillova%2064-70.pdf Makaleler]. ''Turuk Dergisi''.</ref>
*{{lang-uk|Микола (Mykola), Миколай (Mykolai)}}
*{{lang-uk|Микола (Mykola), Миколай (Mykolai)}}
*{{lang-hsb|Mikławš}}
*{{lang-hsb|Mikławš}}
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*[[Dutch language|Dutch]]: Klasina, Klazina, Nicole, Nicolien, Nicolet, Nicoline
*[[Dutch language|Dutch]]: Klasina, Klazina, Nicole, Nicolien, Nicolet, Nicoline
*[[Danish language|Danish]]: Nikoline
*[[Danish language|Danish]]: Nikoline
*[[English language|English]]: [[Nicole (given name)|Nicole]]/Nichole, Nicola/Nichola, [[Nicolette (disambiguation)|Nicolette]], Colette
*[[English language|English]]: [[Nicole (given name)|Nicole]]/Nichole, Nicola/Nichola
*[[French language|French]]: Colette, Coline, Nicole, Nicolette, Nicoline, Cosette
*[[French language|French]]: Colette, Coline, Nicole, Nicolette, Nicoline, Cosette
*[[German language|German]]: Nicole, Nikole, Nicola, Nikola
*[[German language|German]]: Nicole, Nikole, Nicola, Nikola
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{{srt}}
{{srt}}
*[[Nick (given name)|Nick]] (short form)
*[[Nick (given name)|Nick]] (short form)
*[[Nicky]], [[Nickey (name)|Nickey]], [[Nicki]], [[Nickie (disambiguation)|Nickie]], [[Niky]], [[Nikky]] (nicknames)
*[[Nicky]], [[Nickey (name)|Nickey]], [[Nicki]], [[Niky]], [[Nikky]] (nicknames)
*[[Nicholaus]]
*[[Nicholaus]]
*[[Nicolas (disambiguation)]]


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 15:55, 23 June 2023

For other uses, see Nicholas (disambiguation) and Nicolas (disambiguation).
Nicholas
Saint Nicholas of Myra
Pronunciation/ˈnɪkələs/
GenderMale
Origin
Word/nameGreek
MeaningVictory of the people
Other names
Derived
  • Ancient Greek: Νῑκόλᾱος, romanized: Nikólaos:
  • From νίκη, nī́kē 'victory' and λᾱός, lāós 'people'
Related namesMiklós, Nicander, Nicanor, Niccolò, Nickolas, Nico, Nicol, Nicola, Nicolaas, Nicolae, Nicolao, Nicolas, Nicolau, Nicolay, Nicole, Nicolle, Nikita, Niklas, Nikola, Nikolai, Nikolaos, Nikolas, Nikolaus, Nikolla, Nikollë, Nikos

Nicholas is a male given name, the Anglophone version of an ancient Greek name in use since antiquity, and cognate with the modern Greek Νικόλαος, Nikolaos. It originally derived from a combination of two Greek words meaning 'victory' and 'people'.

The name has been widely used in countries with significant Christian populations, owing in part to the veneration of Saint Nicholas, which became increasingly prominent in Western Europe from the 11th century. Revered as a saint in many Christian denominations, the Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, and Anglican Churches all celebrate Saint Nicholas Day on December 6. In maritime regions throughout Europe, the name and its derivatives have been especially popular, as St Nicholas is considered the protector saint of seafarers. This remains particularly so in Greece, where St Nicholas is the patron saint of the Hellenic Navy.[1][2]

Origins

The name derives from the Ancient Greek: Νῑκόλᾱος, romanized: Nikólaos.[3] It is understood to mean 'victory of the people', being a compound of two Greek words, νίκη, nī́kē 'victory'[4] and λᾱός, lāós 'people'.[5] An ancient[5] paretymology (a false etymology) of the latter element, λᾱός, is that it originates from λᾶς, lâs (a contracted form of λᾶας, lâas), meaning 'stone' or 'rock'.[6] This is in reference to the story of Deucalion and Pyrrha from Greek mythology. As the sole survivors of a catastrophic deluge, they were able to repopulate the world by throwing stones behind them, over their shoulders, while they kept marching on. The stones formed men and women where they landed.

The name became popular through Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra in Lycia, the inspiration for Santa Claus, but it predates said bishop by several centuries: the Athenian historian Thucydides for example, mentions that in the second year of the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC) between Sparta and Athens, the Spartans sent a delegation to the Persian king to ask for his help to fight the Athenians; a certain Nikolaos was one of the delegates.[7]

The customary English spelling Nicholas, using a ch, as though the word were spelled in Greek with a chi, first came into use in the 12th century and has been firmly established since the Reformation, although the spelling Nicolas is occasionally used.[citation needed]

In Scotland, until the late nineteenth century, fishing communities used Nicholas as a female name.[8][9]

Male variations

Variations for males include:[10][11]

Female forms

Female forms include:[10]

  • Bulgarian: Николина (Nikolina), Николета (Nikoleta), Никол (Nikol), Нина (Nina)
  • Czech: Nikol, Nikoleta, Nikola, Nicol
  • Dutch: Klasina, Klazina, Nicole, Nicolien, Nicolet, Nicoline
  • Danish: Nikoline
  • English: Nicole/Nichole, Nicola/Nichola
  • French: Colette, Coline, Nicole, Nicolette, Nicoline, Cosette
  • German: Nicole, Nikole, Nicola, Nikola
  • Greek: Νίκη (Níkē, a conflation with Níke), Νικολέτα (Nikoléta), Νικολίνα (Νikolína)
  • Hungarian: Nikolett
  • Italian: Nicoletta, Nicole, Nicolina
  • Macedonian: Николина (Nikolina)
  • Norwegian: Nilsine, Nicoline
  • Polish: Nikola
  • Portuguese: Nicole
  • Romanian: Niculina, Nicoleta
  • Scottish: Nicola, Nicholas (Lowlands 18th/19th century)
  • Serbo-Croatian: Nikolija (archaic), Nikolina, Nikoleta
  • Slovak: Nikola, Nikoleta
  • Slovene: Nika
  • Spanish: Nicol, Nicoleta, Nicoletta, Nicolina, Nicole.

People known as Nicholas

Single name (rulers, popes, patriarch and antipopes)

Given (first) name

Nobility

Saints

Surname

See also

References

  1. ^ "Greece". St. Nicholas Center. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 14 December 2022 suggested (help)
  2. ^ English, Adam C. (2012). "Death Is Only the Beginning". The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus: The true life and trials of Nicholas of Myra. Waco, Texas (USA): Baylor University Press. pp. 165–191. ISBN 978-1-60258-634-5.
  3. ^ "Saint Nicholas: The story behind the legendary figure that inspired the modern-day Santa". Newshub. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  4. ^ νίκη. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project.
  5. ^ a b λαός in Liddell and Scott.
  6. ^ λᾶας in Liddell and Scott.
  7. ^ Thucydides. "2.67". History of the Peloponnesian War. At the Perseus Project digital library.
  8. ^ "Details for the forename Nicholas". www.whatsinaname.net.
  9. ^ "Forenames: Ambiguous names". ScotlandsPeople. Gov.UK. Names that, today, we would normally associate with boys were occasionally (mainly in the North of Scotland) given to girls and vice versa, for example, Nicholas.
    • For an example of such use for females, see this description of a 1754 case of an executed woman, Nicholas Cockburn: Bennett, Rachel E. (December 2017). "Scottish Women and the Hangman's Noose". Capital Punishment and the Criminal Corpse in Scotland, 1740–1834. Palgrave Macmillan.
  10. ^ a b "Nicholas". Behind the Name.
  11. ^ "Nikolai". Nordic Names.
  12. ^ Makaleler. Turuk Dergisi.
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