Nikola

Nikola is a masculine given name of South Slavic origin. It derives from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning “victory of the people” (nike = victory; laos = people). The name is common in Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria, among other Slavic-speaking communities. Variants include Nikolai, Nikolaj, Nico, and Niko.

Notable people named Nikola include Nikola Tesla (1856–1943), the Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer whose work helped popularize alternating current; Nikola Jokic (born 1995), a Serbian professional basketball player who won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award; and Nikola Karabatić (born 1984), a French handball player of Serbian origin who has won multiple world titles.

Other uses: Nikola Corporation, formerly Nikola Motor Company, is an American company focused on electric and hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks and related infrastructure. Founded in 2014, it came to prominence after going public in 2020 through a SPAC merger and has since faced regulatory scrutiny and leadership changes related to business practices.