Nicholas

Nicholas derives from the ancient Greek name Nikólaos, composed of the elements níkē, meaning victory, and laós, meaning people, giving the overall sense of victory of the people. The name was borne most famously by Saint Nicholas of Myra, a fourth-century bishop whose legendary generosity gave rise to the Santa Claus tradition and made the name enormously popular throughout Christian Europe. It spread widely across medieval Europe in numerous forms, including the French Nicolas, the Spanish Nicolás, the Italian Nicola and Niccolò, and the Russian Nikolai. Common short forms and diminutives include Nick, Nico, and Cole.