Boy Names Like Nicholas

Nicasio

Spanish from Greek

"victory"

Closer to Nike than to Nicholas, this is an attractive, viable import. It's also one of several Italian and Spanish baby names that get you to the stylish and attractive nickname Nico.

Nicholson

English

"son of Nicol"

If you're looking for a Nicholas substitute or namesake, Nicholson would make a more distinctive path to the likable nickname Nick, fitting in with other newer patronymics like Anderson and Harrison.…

Nicol

Scottish and English, medieval variation of Nicholas

Often used in England, but here likely to be confused with the feminine Nicole. Nicol Williamson was a Scottish-born actor once described by playwright John Osborne as "the greatest actor since…

Nicolo

Italian form of Nicholas

"people of victory"

Nicolo is a more lively variation of Nicholas and one of the most attractive Italian names for boys . A name with a long, distinguished Italian history of its own, it also boasts the charming…

Nikos

Greek, diminutive of various names beginning with the element Niko-

Attractive, approachable, and more striking Nick alternative.

Niven

Scottish

"little saint"

Excellent candidate for use as an undiscovered surname name. Niven is the Anglicized spelling of the Irish name Naomhan, a diminutive of the word naomh which means saint. This handsome but unusual…

Noam

Hebrew

"pleasantness, charm, tenderness"

Noam is an underused modern Hebrew name with any number of attractive attributes attached to its meaning; it doesn't have the biblical weight of Noah, but could make a more distinctive alternative to…

Phineas

English, Egyptian

"the Nubian, the bronze-colored one"

Phineas is the English variation of Phinehas, a Hebrew name likely derived from the Egyptian name Pa-nehasi. Pa-nehasi, meaning "the Nubian" can also be translated as "the bronze-colored one." The…

Rafferty

Irish

"floodtide, abundance, prosperity"

Jaunty and dapper, Rafferty is one of the most engaging of the Irish surnames, used by Jude Law and Sadie Frost for their son in 1996. Derived from the Irish, O'Raighbheartaigh, it means "(spring)…

Alexios

Greek

"defending men"

Very popular on its native turf, foreign-sounding here.