Niko
A diminutive of the male given names Nikola, Nikolas, and Nikolaos, from Greek.
Every Niko since 1962 — 15,135 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Niko
Niko is moderately common for boys in the United States, ranked #325 in 2025 with 1,046 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1962, 15,135 American babies have been named Niko. Its peak came in 2022, when 1,212 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Niko stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Niko year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | #6,269 | 1,046 | #325 |
| 2024 | 17 | #6,857 | 1,004 | #344 |
| 2023 | 14 | #7,944 | 1,037 | #320 |
| 2022 | 20 | #6,154 | 1,192 | #287 |
| 2021 | 19 | #6,346 | 1,173 | #290 |
| 2020 | 15 | #7,474 | 870 | #358 |
| 2019 | 13 | #8,480 | 743 | #416 |
| 2018 | 7 | #13,435 | 549 | #518 |
| 2017 | 16 | #7,339 | 507 | #549 |
| 2016 | 13 | #8,741 | 439 | #613 |
| 2015 | 11 | #9,968 | 425 | #629 |
| 2014 | 11 | #9,989 | 432 | #618 |
| 2013 | 12 | #9,462 | 433 | #587 |
| 2012 | 14 | #8,516 | 346 | #688 |
| 2011 | 12 | #9,572 | 303 | #749 |
| 2010 | 10 | #11,033 | 278 | #789 |
| 2009 | 14 | #8,769 | 273 | #814 |
| 2008 | 15 | #8,431 | 264 | #831 |
| 2007 | 8 | #13,582 | 217 | #915 |
| 2006 | 9 | #12,155 | 190 | #978 |
| 2005 | 7 | #14,104 | 162 | #1,038 |
| 2004 | — | — | 175 | #961 |
| 2003 | 9 | #11,081 | 177 | #930 |
| 2002 | 6 | #14,910 | 158 | #995 |
| 2001 | — | — | 166 | #938 |
| 2000 | 7 | #12,775 | 140 | #1,038 |
| 1995 | 8 | #10,235 | 166 | #836 |
| 1990 | — | — | 171 | #776 |
| 1985 | — | — | 13 | #3,541 |
| 1980 | — | — | 6 | #6,021 |
| 1975 | 12 | #5,065 | 6 | #5,265 |
| 1970 | 16 | #3,824 | 9 | #3,448 |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Niko
- Niko Pirosmani Painter · 1862–1918
- Niko Kovač Soccer player · b. 1971
- Niko Kranjčar Soccer player · b. 1984
- Niko Eeckhout Cyclist · b. 1970
- Niko Kapanen Hockey player · b. 1978
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Niko mean?
A diminutive of the male given names Nikola, Nikolas, and Nikolaos, from Greek.
How popular is the name Niko in 2025?
Niko ranked #325 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 1,046 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Niko?
15,135 babies have been named Niko in the United States since 1962, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Niko most popular?
Niko peaked in 2022, when 1,212 newborns received the name.
Is Niko a boy or girl name?
Niko is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 97% of babies with the name.
Is the name Niko rising or falling?
Niko is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Niko?
Well-known people named Niko include Niko Pirosmani (painter), Niko Kovač (soccer player), Niko Kranjčar (soccer player).