The baby name Nicodemus combines ancient style with a trending nickname.
Thanks to Sarah for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME NICODEMUS MEAN?
Nicodemus breaks down neatly:
- If you know your Nic- names, then you probably guessed that the first element means victory, as in the Greek nike.
- The second part is demos – the people.
So Nicodemus means victory of the people. It’s a triumphant, hopeful meaning.
But Nicodemus doesn’t necessarily sound bold. All those syllables and the -s ending make it scholarly and ancient.
Compared to 21st century favorites like Ryder, Jax, or Maverick, it’s rather serious. Call it a brother for Thaddeus or Lucian.
FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT TO THE 19th CENTURY
Nicodemus endures because it appears in the New Testament.
He’s often considered an older man, though the Gospel of John doesn’t specify. We only know that he helps bury Jesus.
Some scholars connect him to a historical 1st century figure, Nicodmeus ben Gurion.
In any case, the name remained in use.
Nicodemo da Ciro is a saint from Calabria, Italy, who lived in the 10th century. He established at least one new monastic community.
In addition:
- Several more religious figures answer to the name.
- A 16th century German scholar signed his name Philipp Nicodemus Frischlin, or sometimes Philipp Nikodemus Frischlin.
- In Sweden, the Pomeranian-born Nicodemus Tessin established himself as an architect. Working across Europe during the 17th century, he designed Sweden’s Drottningholm Palace, a world heritage site. His son, Nicodemus Tessin the Younger, picked up where his dad left off.
- 19th century French Canadian merchant Nicodème Audet became an elected official in Quebec. That version of the name is sometimes heard across the Francophone world.
The name continues to surface across the centuries.
LITERARY NICODEMUS
Charles Dickens used the name twice. In Our Mutual Friend, Nicodemus is called Noddy.
But the most famous literary use of the name belongs to children’s story Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. First published in 1971. It won a Newbery Medal. In 1982, filmmakers retitled the story The Secret of NIMH for a featured-length animated movie.
Mrs. Frisby is a field mouse trying to save her home from the farmer’s plow. A group of former lab rats come to her aid. The rats were part of experiments at the National Institute of Mental Health, called NIMH for short. The NIMH rats learned a tremendous amount from human scientists. They read, write and engineer, eventually escaping the lab. Nicodemus serves as their leader, and the wisest of the bunch.
The name has surfaced in pop culture a handful of times since, occasionally as a villian, but not always.
NICODEMUS ON THE MAP
In 1877, following the end of the Civil War, a group of former enslaved persons established a community in Kansas, a safe haven for those fleeing the South.
While the settlement never developed into a city, the original buildings are part of the National Park Service.
Where did the name come from? Possibly from the Biblical figure, but others say that it’s from abolitionist Henry Clay’s 1864 poem “Wake, Nicodemus. In either case, the name’s meaning seems appropriate.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME NICODEMUS?
The baby name Nicodemus has never appeared in the US Top 1000, not even during the 1990s when related name Nicholas reached peak popularity.
It debuted in the US data in the year 1924, when six boys were given the name.
As of 2025, 45 boys were named Nicodemus. Despite creeping up in use incremenetally, it remains very rare.
WEARABLE RARITY
Of course, some parents spend their entire pregnancy searching for a rare, but wearable, name.
If that describes your preferences, then Nicodemus deserves a closer look.
Nico entered the US Top 200 for the first time in 2025, a logical successor to Leo and Theo. It’s also an update for Nicholas, and a very wearable short form of Nicodemus.
With longer Biblical boy names like Ezekiel and Jeremiah ranked in the current Top 100, Nicodemus doesn’t feel like a stretch. Boys’ names ending with S are having a moment, too. If Atticus wears well, why not Nicodemus.
With easy nicknames and dramatic, but current sound, this could be the perfect fits-in/stands-out choice for a son.
Would you consider the baby name Nicodemus?
First published on April 7, 2016, this post was revised on September 10, 2026.
I think this one would work well. I recently overheard a toddler named Nehemiah at the playground, which doesn’t seem to have a good nickname…Knee? But Nicodemus shortens so nicely to Nico.
Plus Jesus says John 3:16 to Nicodemus, so that’s also a great Biblical tie in, since that verse is so famous.
You’re right, British American! I do think Nicodemus is one of those rare names that can feel intensely and appropriately Christian. Or … not. I can imagine parents choosing this without being aware of the Biblical ties, too.
As for Nehemiah? I had a colleague with a grandson named Nehemiah, and they called him Nemo! He was SUCH an adorable little boy – though he must be more like 9 or 10 now, and I’m not sure if the nickname has stuck. I also don’t know if the nickname was something they planned in advance or something that sort of evolved – but I really love it!
I loooove Nicodemus. It’s a long name that flows off the tongue well, has great history, and has an easy nickname. But my husband said no. For now. I’m working on it.
I looove this name, and love this post! Noddy’s adorable and Nico’s so cool.
Nicodemus called Cody would be adorable.
I love the name Demosthenes. I read from a French baby name site that a mother gave this name to her son. He went by Demo , prn. Deem-oh , putting emphasis on the first syllable. I think Demo would work well for Nicodemus. While, I love the name Nicodemus as well, I honestly, just don’t see much love going toward longer Greek and Biblical names. It’s a shame though. They are steeped with soo much History and literary cred. Some are in plays or musicals even. And you would think in the day and age that we live in, with education/ libraries/Internet so available, you would think some of these gems would be used more often. Especially Nicodemus, it just feels more used than it actually is…