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Nicola

Girl name · 15,963 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Nicola: 15,963 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 935 births in 1974.

Nicola, the feminine form of Nicholas, traces back to the Greek Nikolaos, a compound of *nikē* (victory) and *laos* (people), meaning “victory of the people.” It is especially popular in Scotland and Italy. Perhaps the most prominent modern bearer is Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland from 2014 to 2023. The name also honours the 19th-century inventor Nikola Tesla (though his spelling differs), and the celebrated Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti. While no major place is directly named Nicola, the male root Nicholas appears in countless towns and churches worldwide. A familiar variant is Nicole, which surged in the 20th century, but Nicola retains a classic, enduring feel, particularly in Scotland where it regularly graced the baby name charts from the 1970s onward.