Nicolas in Chinese
Nicolas in Chinese is 尼古拉斯 (Ní Gǔ Lā Sī).
- Origin
- Greek
- Meaning
- victory of the people
The name traces back to Greek sources, where it is usually explained as "victory of the people". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1882 and peaked in 2003. Spellings pronounced the same way include Nicholas, which share the transliteration 尼古拉斯.
3 ways to write Nicolas
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
尼古拉斯
Ní Gǔ Lā Sī
The standard transliteration of Nicolas: 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?
Mandarin has no consonant clusters, so the 3-syllable English name is spread over 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
冠宇
Guàn Yǔ
Inspired by "victory of the people": 冠 (guàn, "crown; champion") + 宇 (yǔ, "universe; eaves"), expressing victory and honor.
Why these characters?
Because Nicolas is linked to "victory", the name leads with 冠 (crown; champion); 宇 (universe; eaves) gives it a natural given-name finish.
Character breakdown
15 strokes total (simplified)- 冠
guàn
Tone 4 · 9 strokes (simplified)
crown; champion
- 宇
yǔ
Tone 3 · 6 strokes (simplified)
universe; eaves
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
耀胜
Yào Shèng
耀 (yào, "to shine, glory") + 胜 (shèng, "victory"): a natural Chinese given name themed on victory and honor.
Why these characters?
No attractive character closely matches "ni" (ní), so 耀 ("to shine, glory") and 胜 ("victory") were chosen for victory and honor.
Character breakdown
29 strokes total (simplified)- 耀
yào
Tone 4 · 20 strokes (simplified)
to shine, glory
- 胜
shèng
Tone 4 · 9 strokes (simplified)
victory
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Stroke order
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Recent US usage of Nicolas
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, Nicolas ranked 188 among names recorded for boys, with 11,843 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 85,430 boys named Nicolas since 1882, with the high point in 2003 (3,002 births) and the busiest decade being the 2000s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #187 to #205 among boys.
- Peak year
- 2003
- Peak decade
- 2000s
- First year
- 1882
- Total since 1880
- 85,430
More About Nicolas in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Nicolas 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 Nicolas, you'll find options that work for you.
Nicolas is also spelled Nicholas — 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 Nicholas in Chinese, Nicole in Chinese, and Manuel in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Preston in Chinese, Martin in Chinese, Brendan in Chinese, Brady in Chinese, and Douglas in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Nicolas, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Nicolas 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
What is Nicolas in Chinese characters?
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.
Is there a Chinese name for Nicolas with real meaning?
Try 冠宇 (Guàn Yǔ): crown; champion + universe; eaves, inspired by "victory of the people". For something that still sounds like Nicolas, 耀胜 (Yào Shèng) is a middle ground.