Nicolae

Nicolae is a masculine given name widely used in Romania and Moldova. It is the Romanian form of Nicolas, derived from the Greek Nikolaos, from Nike (victory) and Laos (people), meaning "victory of the people." The name has circulated in Romanian-speaking areas since at least the 19th century and remains common today.

Diminutives and short forms include Nicu. Feminine forms include Nicoleta and Nicola. The name is used in Romanian-speaking communities and appears in historical records and literature across the region.

Notable people named Nicolae include Nicolae Ceaușescu (1918–1989), Romanian communist leader; Nicolae Iorga (1871–1940), historian and politician; Nicolae Paulescu (1869–1931), physiologist who conducted early insulin-related research; and Nicolae Titulescu (1881–1941), diplomat and politician. The given name remains common in Romania and Moldova, reflecting broader European naming traditions.