Nikolay

Nikolay is a masculine given name used primarily in Russia and other Slavic countries. It is the Russian variant of Nikolai, a form that ultimately derives from the Greek name Nikolaos.

The given name Nikolaos in Greek combines Nike, meaning "victory," with laos, meaning "people," and is commonly interpreted as "victory of the people." The form Nikolay is common in Russian transliteration, and related variants include Nikolai, Nikolaj, and Nikola, depending on language and transliteration conventions. Cognates appear across Europe, such as Nikolai in Bulgarian and Russian, Nikolaj in Danish and Norwegian, and Nikola in Serbian, Croatian, and other languages.

Diminutives and affectionate forms are common in Russian usage; for Nikolay, Kolya is a well-known informal version. The name has a long-standing presence in Russian culture and appears in many Slavic and European contexts in its various forms.

Notable bearers of the name (and its variants) include figures from literature, science, and public life, illustrating the name’s historical prominence. Examples often cited in English-language references include the writer Nikolai Gogol, the geneticist Nikolai Vavilov, and the poet Nikolai Gumilyov, demonstrating the name’s enduring use in Slavic regions.