The baby name Nicola sounds like classic favorites Nicholas and Nicole. But it’s always been just under the radar, at least in the US.
Thanks to Corinne for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME NICOLA MEAN?
Before we get to the first name Nicola, we have to talk about Nicholas.
The Greek name Nikolaos came from the word nike – victory. Long before it was a global athletic brand, Nike was the Greek goddess of victory. Add the -laos ending and it means “people of victory.”
Nick- names abound, many related to Nike.
In Italy, Nicola evolved as a masculine form of the name. Influential thirteenth century sculptor Nicola Pisano is one example, but the name ranks in Italy’s Top 100 for males even now.
But in English-speaking countries, the -A ending was adopted for females.
One reason the name was popular across Europe? The fourth century Saint Nicholas, popular in the ancient world, would inspire the figure we know as Santa Claus.
20th CENTURY SENSATION
The boy’s name Nicholas appears in the US Top 1000 every year since data was first compiled in 1880.
Nicole, on the other hand, debuted in the 1940s. The French feminine form of the name became a Top Ten sensation in the US during the 1970s and 80s.
Nick- names surged for both genders, and Nicholas ranked in the boy’s Top Ten from 1993 into the early 2000s.
In Britain, Nicola trended for girls, but it never quite caught on in the US.
Pronounce it with three syllables: like Nicholas without the final S, or something like Ricola cough drops.
BETTER FOR BOYS OR GIRLS?
So is the baby name Nicola feminine or masculine?
Yes.
In British Columbia, the Nicola River and Lake are both named after a male bearer of the name – in this case, a famous Okanagan chief from the 1800s. Nicola was an Anglicization of Nkwala.
Most recent Nicolas have been women and most of them have been English:
- In the 1970s, Nicola Pagett played Elizabeth Bellamy in Upstairs, Downstairs.
- More recently, actress Nicola Wheeler played character Nicola De Souza on the ITV drama Emmerdale.
- Singer Nicola Roberts earned a spot in the pop group Girls Aloud on the 2002 ITV1 reality competition Popstars: The Rivals.
And then came Bridgerton.
NICOLA COUGHLAN
Born in Galway, Irish actress Nicola Coughlan rose to fame as Clare on Derry Girls from 2018 to 2022.
Then in 2020 she graduated to Bridgerton, playing the overlooked Penelope Featherington.
Penelope may not be the diamond of the season in the Regency romance, but she is a pivotal character. And in the third season, Penelope finds love on her own terms.
She’s a fan favorite and a breakout star from the hit series.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME NICOLA?
At the peak of Nicole’s popularity, the baby name Nicola briefly appeared in the US Top 1000, charting a handful of times between 1968 and 1978.
But it never really caught on.
As of 2024, just 15 girls and 35 boys received the name. Given our preferences for boy names like Luca and Ezra, Nicola might emerge as a unisex choice in the US.
And yet, with numbers so small, this name remains very flexible.
A FRESH UPDATE FOR NICK NAMES
The baby name Nicola offers a surprising spin on all those familiar Nick- names. It’s not as extreme as Nicanor, not as elaborate as Nicolette.
If you’re looking for a way to honor a beloved Nick, Nicky, or Nikki, Nicola could be the perfect name – for a daughter or a son.
What do you think of the baby name Nicola?
First published on November 11, 2008, this post was updated on October 20, 2025.
I am a former Nicola. I bore it for 25 years before officially changing my name to Nina after many years of deliberation. It caused trouble in my transatlantic childhood; in Canada I was often called Nicole, or Nic-OH-la, or, worst, Ricola (sung in the yodel). Nicki never suited me (Nic did, but it’s obviously shortened). Back in the UK as a teen, there were THREE of us called Nicola in my class of 16!
I’m going to finish this over on the Nina page, as that’s where I finish too!