Nikolaos

Nikolaos is an ancient Greek masculine name composed of the elements nikē, meaning victory, and laos, meaning people, giving the overall sense of victory of the people. It was borne by several early Christian saints, most famously the 4th-century bishop of Myra whose legendary generosity gave rise to the figure of Santa Claus. The name spread widely throughout Europe and beyond through veneration of that saint, generating a vast family of cognates including Nicholas, Nikolai, Nikolaus, Nikola, Nicolás, Niccolò, and Klaus.