Nicholas

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English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English Nicholas, from Old French Nicholas, from Latin Nīcolāus, from Ancient Greek Νικόλαος (Nikólaos), from νίκη (níkē, “victory”) + λαός (laós, “people”)

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈnɪk.ə.ləs/, /ˈnɪk.ləs/
  • Audio (UK):(file)

Proper noun

Nicholas (plural Nicholases)

  1. A male given name from Ancient Greek. Best known for St. Nicholas of Myre, on whom Father Christmas is based.
    • 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
      Sirrah, if they meet not with Saint Nicholas’ clerks, I'll give thee this neck.
    • 1871–1872, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], chapter LIII, in Middlemarch […], volume III, Edinburgh, London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC, book V, page 182:
      I must call you Nick—we always did call you young Nick when we knew you meant to marry the old widow. Some said you had a handsome family likeness to old Nick, but that was your mother's fault, calling you Nicholas. Aren't you glad to see me again?
  2. A patronymic surname transferred from the given name

Derived terms

male given names
pet forms
female given names
surnames

Translations

Anagrams

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old French Nicholas, from Latin Nīcolāus, from Ancient Greek Νικόλαος (Nikólaos).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈnikɔlas/, /ˈnikɔlau̯s/

Proper noun

Nicholas

  1. a male given name associated with Saint Nicholas of Myra.

Descendants

  • English: Nicholas
  • Scots: Nicholas

References

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