Klaus

Klaus is a German and Scandinavian short form of Nikolaus, the German and Dutch rendering of the Greek name Nikolaos, which is composed of the elements nike, meaning victory, and laos, meaning people. The name spread widely through medieval Europe largely due to the veneration of Saint Nicholas, the fourth-century bishop of Myra whose legendary generosity became the foundation of the Santa Claus tradition, the latter name itself being a Dutch diminutive form Sinterklaas derived from Klaus. Notable bearers include the German physicist Klaus Fuchs and the fictional villain Klaus Barbie, as well as numerous figures in German-language literature and film. Nikolaus, Claus, Niklas, and Klas are closely related forms found across Germanic and Nordic traditions.