Niko
Meaning of Niko
Niko is the crisp, two-syllable cousin of Nicholas, ultimately springing from the Greek name Nikolaos—literally “victory of the people.” Used in Greece, Finland, and much of the Slavic world, it carries a pan-European passport while remaining easy on English-speaking ears; the common pronunciation is the straightforward “NEE-koh.” Over the past half-century it has moved from near-obscurity in American birth records to a respectable mid-300s rank, suggesting steady appeal without tipping into overexposure. Cultural associations range from the generosity of Saint Nicholas to modern figures in sports and music, giving the name a quietly cosmopolitan air. Niko’s compact form sidesteps the formality of Nicholas yet retains its heritage, making it equally suited to a playground nickname or a professional byline. Dry humorists might add that, like its etymological promise, the name has indeed been “victorious” in winning over parents who prefer something familiar but not ubiquitous.
Pronunciation
British English
- Pronunced as NEE-koh (/niːkəʊ/)
American English
- Pronunced as NEE-koh (/niːkoʊ/)
Greek,Finnish
- Pronunced as NEE-koh (/niko/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Niko
| Niko Kovač - Niko Kovac is a professional football manager and former player who manages Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga. |
| Niko Hämäläinen - US-born Finnish left back Niko Hamalainen plays for Norwegian club Haugesund and the Finland national team, making his senior debut in January 2019 against Estonia. |
| Cartier Niko Goodrum is an American former MLB utility player for the Twins, Tigers, Astros, Rays, and Angels who also played in the KBO with the Lotte Giants and covered every position except pitcher and catcher. |
| Niko Bianconi is an Italian forward for Varesina. |
| Niko Petteri Kari is a Finnish former racing driver who last raced in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Jenzer Motorsport, won the 2015 SMP F4 title in his debut year, and was part of the Red Bull Junior Team. |
| Niko Is, born Nikolai Paiva in Rio de Janeiro and based in Orlando, is a Brazilian-American hip hop artist signed to Talib Kweli's Javotti Media, known for Chill Cosby, Good Blood, and his acclaimed 2015 album Brutus with producer Thanks Joey. |
| Niko Lalos - Nikolas A. Lalos is an American professional football defensive end who played college football at Dartmouth. |
| Niko Dimitrakos - Nicholas Dimitrakos is a Greek American former professional ice hockey right winger who played in the NHL for the San Jose Sharks and Philadelphia Flyers. |
| Niko Takahashi Cendagorta is a professional footballer who plays left back for FC Barcelona Juvenil B and represents Japan at youth level. |
| Niko Moon is an American country pop singer and songwriter, formerly with RCA Nashville, who has written for Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown Band, Rascal Flatts, and Morgan Wallen, and was in the group Sir Rosevelt with Zac Brown and Ben Simonetti. |
| Niko Kirwan is a New Zealand midfielder for Italian club Trapani and the New Zealand national team. |
| Niko Kapanen is a Finnish former professional ice hockey center who last played for HPK in the Finnish Liiga. |
| Niko, born Nicole Vergel De Dios, is an American musician from Seattle with Japanese, Spanish, Norwegian, German, and Filipino heritage. |
| Niko Lomouri was a Georgian writer and educator. |
| Niko Jones is a New Zealand rugby union flanker for Auckland in the National Provincial Championship and for Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby. |
