Nicholas \n(i)-cho-las\ as a boy's name is pronounced NIK-oh-lus. It is of Greek origin, and the meaning of Nicholas is "people of victory". Biblical: one of seven "qualified men" in the first-century Christian congregation. Saint Nicholas (fourth century) is known as the patron saint of Greece and Russia, children, scholars, sailors, and pawnbrokers, and (via his Dutch name, Sinte Klaas) the original Santa Claus. Five popes and two emperors of Russia have borne the name. Nicholai, Nicolai, Niklos are Slavic forms; Nickolaus, Nikolaus are German; Nikolai is Polish, Russian; Niccolo, Nicoli, Nicolo are Italian; Nikolos is Greek; Nils is Swedish; Niels is Danish. Theatre director Nikos Psacharapolous; Dickens' novel "Nicholas Nickleby"; actors Nicholas Cage, Nikolas Grace, Nicol Williamson; composer Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; political philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli.

Nicholas has 61 variant forms: Claas, Claes, Claus, Colas, Cole, Colet, Colin, Collin, Klaas, Klaes, Klaus, Nic, Nicanor, Niccolo, Nichol, Nicholai, Nicholaus, Nichole, Nicholl, Nichols, Nick, Nickey, Nickie, Nicklas, Nickolas, Nickolaus, Nicky, Nicol, Nicola, Nicolaas, Nicolai, Nicolao, Nicolas, Nicolaus, Nicolay, Nicolet, Nicoli, Nicolis, Nicoll, Nicollet, Nicolls, Nicolo, Niels, Nik, Niki, Nikita, Nikki, Nikkolas, Nikkolay, Nikky, Niklaas, Niklas, Niklos, Nikolai, Nikolas, Nikolaus, Nikolay, Nikolos, Nikos, Nilos and Nils.

For more information, see also related names Coll, Coulson, Nels and Nixon.

A baby name that sounds like Nicholas is Nigellus.