Nicholas in Chinese
Nicholas in Chinese is 尼古拉斯 (Ní Gǔ Lā Sī).
- Origin
- Greek
- Meaning
- victory of the people
Nicholas is a name of Greek origin, generally understood to mean "victory of the people". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 1990s. Spellings pronounced the same way include Nicolas, which share the transliteration 尼古拉斯.
3 ways to write Nicholas
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
尼古拉斯
Ní Gǔ Lā Sī
The standard transliteration of Nicholas: 尼 (ní, "Buddhist nun (phonetic 'ni')"), 古 (gǔ, "ancient"), 拉 (lā, "to pull (phonetic 'la')"), 斯 (sī, "this (phonetic 's')"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
To fit Mandarin syllable rules, the sounds are broken into 4 characters: 尼 ní + 古 gǔ + 拉 lā + 斯 sī. The tone contour is 2-3-1-1 (rising, dipping, high level, high level).
Character breakdown
30 strokes total (simplified)- 尼
ní
Tone 2 · 5 strokes (simplified)
Buddhist nun (phonetic 'ni')
- 古
gǔ
Tone 3 · 5 strokes (simplified)
ancient
- 拉
lā
Tone 1 · 8 strokes (simplified)
to pull (phonetic 'la')
- 斯
sī
Tone 1 · 12 strokes (simplified)
this (phonetic 's')
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
胜杰
Shèng Jié
Inspired by "victory of the people": 胜 (shèng, "victory") + 杰 (jié, "outstanding, heroic"), expressing victory and honor.
Why these characters?
The idea of "victory" behind Nicholas is rendered by 胜, "victory"; 杰, "outstanding, heroic", completes it.
Character breakdown
17 strokes total (simplified)- 胜
shèng
Tone 4 · 9 strokes (simplified)
victory
- 杰
jié
Tone 2 · 8 strokes (simplified)
outstanding, heroic
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Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
凯耀
Kǎi Yào
凯 (kǎi, "triumph, victory song") + 耀 (yào, "to shine, glory"): a natural Chinese given name themed on victory and honor.
Why these characters?
No attractive character closely matches "ni" (ní), so 凯 ("triumph, victory song") and 耀 ("to shine, glory") were chosen for victory and honor.
Character breakdown
28 strokes total (simplified)- 凯
kǎi
Tone 3 · 8 strokes (simplified)
triumph, victory song
- 耀
yào
Tone 4 · 20 strokes (simplified)
to shine, glory
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Recent US usage of Nicholas
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, Nicholas ranked 103 among names recorded for boys, with 20,988 registrations in that group across the period. These are US birth-name records, rather than search counts or a ranking of Chinese names. The period covers part of a decade; it is not a final ranking for the whole 2020s.
Compare the dated figures in the SSA’s official 2020s name table. This snapshot was checked on 2026-10-15; any historical figures on this page describe their own stated period.
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 895,397 boys named Nicholas since 1880, with the high point in 1995 (29,155 births) and the busiest decade being the 1990s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #14 to #68 among boys.
- Peak year
- 1995
- Peak decade
- 1990s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 895,397
More About Nicholas in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Nicholas offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Nicholas, you'll find options that work for you.
Nicholas is also spelled Nicolas — both names use the same Chinese transliteration.
Names with the same root meaning include Nicole in Chinese, which share similar origins or meanings.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in Nicolas in Chinese, Nicole in Chinese, and Andrew in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Jacob in Chinese, John in Chinese, William in Chinese, Ryan in Chinese, and Anthony in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Nicholas, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Nicholas to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write Nicholas in Chinese?
尼古拉斯 (Ní Gǔ Lā Sī), identical in simplified and traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How many strokes does 尼古拉斯 have?
30 strokes in simplified form; per character: 尼 5, 古 5, 拉 8, 斯 12.
Do Nicholas and Nicolas have the same Chinese name?
Yes. Both are written 尼古拉斯, because Chinese transliteration follows pronunciation rather than English spelling.