Nikolai

Nikolai is a masculine given name of Slavic origin, a form of Nikolaos from the Greek roots nikos meaning “victory” and laos meaning “people,” thus commonly interpreted as “victory of the people.” It is widely used in Russia and in many other countries, with several regional spellings and transliterations.

Variants include Nikolay, Nikolaj, Nicolai, and Nikolai; in Scandinavian languages Nikolai is common, while in Russian usage Nikolai or Nikolay is typical. Diminutives such as Kolya are common in Russian, with Niko appearing in some Western-language contexts.

Notable people named Nikolai include the Ukrainian-born Russian writer Nikolai Gogol; the Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov; the mathematician Nikolai Lobachevsky; the Soviet writer Nikolai Ostrovsky; and the botanist Nikolai Vavilov. The name has been borne by politicians, scientists, athletes, and artists across the Slavic and global worlds.

Nikolai, Alaska, is a small unincorporated community in the United States, named after the nearby Nikolai River. It serves as an example of the name’s use in geographic toponyms, reflecting cultural and historical ties to the region.

As a given name, Nikolai remains common in many countries and languages, appearing in literature, film, and everyday life. Its enduring presence reflects a long cultural lineage associated with traditional forms of the name Nicholas.