Mikoaj

Mikoaj is a Polish masculine given name, the Polish form of Nicholas. The name derives from the Greek Nikolaos, formed from nike “victory” and laos “people,” and is commonly associated with the saintly figure of Saint Nicholas in Christian tradition. In standard Polish, the name is written Mikołaj, with the ł representing a distinct sound; in contexts without diacritics it may appear as Mikoaj.

In Poland, Mikoaj has been a widely used name for many centuries and remains common today among Polish-speaking communities and in the Polish diaspora. The name day for Mikoaj is traditionally observed on December 6, the feast day of Saint Nicholas. The association with Saint Nicholas contributes to the name’s enduring popularity, particularly in communities with strong Christmas and gift-giving traditions.

Notable bearers include Mikołaj Kopernik, better known in the Latinized form Nicolaus Copernicus, the Renaissance-era astronomer who proposed the heliocentric model of the solar system. The name also appears in various literary and historical contexts within Polish culture as a classical given name.

Variants and related forms occur in other languages, including Nicolas, Nikolaos, Nikola, and Nikolas. In Polish contexts, the form Mikołaj is the standard, while Mikoaj can appear as a simplified or non-diacritic spelling in non-Polish settings. The name remains a recognized and traditionally Polish choice for boys.