Nikola () is a

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

which, like

Nicholas Nicholas is a male name, the Anglophone version of an ancient Greek name in use since antiquity, and cognate with the modern Greek , . It originally derived from a combination of two Ancient Greek, Greek words meaning 'victory' and 'people'. In ...

, is a version of the Greek ''

Nikolaos Nikolaos (, ') is a common Greek given name which means "Victor of People", a compound of νίκη '' nikē'' 'victory' and λαός laos' 'people'. The connotation is "people's champion" or "conqueror of people". The English form is Nicholas. I ...

'' (Νικόλαος) and it means "the winner of the people". It is common as a masculine given name in the South Slavic countries (

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

Bulgaria Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey t ...

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

North Macedonia North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe. It shares land borders with Greece to the south, Albania to the west, Bulgaria to the east, Kosovo to the northwest and Serbia to the n ...

Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

Slovenia Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and a short (46.6 km) coastline within the Adriati ...

), while in West Slavic countries (

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

Slovakia Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the west, and the Czech Republic to the northwest. Slovakia's m ...

) it is primarily found as a feminine given name. There is a wide variety of male diminutives of the name, examples including: Niko, Nikolica, Nidžo, Nikolče, Nikša, Nikica, Nikulitsa, Nino, Kole, Kolyo, Kolyu. The spelling with a K, ''Nikola'', usually indicates Slavic origin, while '' Nicola'' usually indicates

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...

origin.

Statistics

*Serbia: male name. 5th most popular in 2011, 1st in 2001, 1st in 1991, 5th in 1981, 9th pre-1940. *Croatia: male name. 32,304 (2011), 26,986 (2021) *Bosnia and Herzegovina: male name. *Bulgaria: male name. * North Macedonia: male name. *Czech Republic: 22,567 females and 740 males (2002). *Poland: female name. *Slovakia: female name. *Slovenia: male name. 2003 males and female name

People with the name

Arts

* Nikola Avramov, Bulgarian painter * Nikola Hajdin, President of

Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (; , SANU) is a national academy and the most prominent academic institution in Serbia, founded in 1841 as Society of Serbian Letters (, DSS). The Academy's membership has included Nobel Prize, Nobel la ...

* Nikola Kastner (born 1983), German actress *

Nikola Kojo Nikola Kojo (; born 5 September 1967) is a Serbian actor and film director as well the TV Host of the game shows The Weakest Link. Biography Nikola was named after his great-grandfather, who was an protoiereus in Mostar. He made his acting debu ...

, Serbian actor * Nikola Martinovski, Macedonian painter * Nikola Nešković, Serbian painter * Nikola Vaptsarov, Bulgarian poet

Music

* Nikola Mijailović (singer), Serbian opera singer * Nikola Resanovic, Serbian-American composer * Nikola Šarčević, Swedish thrash rock musician * Nikola Kołodziejczyk, Polish jazz pianist, composer and arranger

Politics

* Vlgdrag or monk Nikola (d. 1327), Serbian nobleman *

Nikola Altomanović Nikola Altomanović ( sr-Cyrl, Никола Алтомановић; died after 1395) was a 14th-century Serbian župan of the House of Vojinović. He ruled the areas from Rudnik, over Polimlje, Podrinje, east Herzegovina with Trebinje, reach ...

(fl. 1371–73), Serbian prince * Nikola Skobaljić (fl. 1454), Serbian general * Nikola Frankopan, Croatian ban * Nikola IV Zrinski, Croatian-Hungarian ban and hero of

Siege of Szigetvár The siege of Szigetvár or the Battle of Szigeth (pronunciation: �siɡɛtvaːr ; ; ) was an Ottoman siege of the fortress of Szigetvár in the Kingdom of Hungary. The fort had blocked Sultan Suleiman's line of advance towards Vienna in 156 ...

Nicholas I of Montenegro Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš ( sr-Cyrl, Никола I Петровић-Његош; – 1 March 1921) was the last monarch of Montenegro from 1860 to 1918, reigning as Principality of Montenegro, prince from 1860 to 1910 and as the country's first ...

, King of Montenegro * Prince Nikola of Yugoslavia (1928–1954), Serbian prince * Nikola, Crown Prince of Montenegro (born 1944), Montenegrin prince *

Nikola Gruevski Nikola Gruevski (, pronounced ; born 31 August 1970) is a former Macedonian politician who served as Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Prime Minister of Macedonia from 2006 until his resignation, which was caused by the 2016 Macedonian protests, ...

, Macedonian Prime minister * Nikola Jorgic, Bosnian Serb soldier *

Nikola Karev Nikola Yanakiev Karev (; ; November 23, 1877 – April 27, 1905) was a Macedonian Bulgarians, Macedonian Bulgarian revolutionary. He was born in Kruševo and died in the village of Rajčani both today in North Macedonia. Karev was a local leader ...

, Macedonian revolutionary * Nikola Kavaja, Serbian anti-communists * Nikola Kljusev, Macedonian politician *

Nikola Ljubičić Nikola Ljubičić (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Љубичић; 4 April 1916 – 13 April 2005) was the President of the Presidency of Serbia (1982–1984), a member of the Presidency of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1984–19 ...

, Serbian politician *

Nikola Mandić Nikola Mandić (; 20 January 1869 – 7 June 1945) was a Croatian politician and one of the leading political figures in Bosnia and Herzegovina under Austrian-Hungarian rule. He also served as a Prime Minister of the Independent State of Croati ...

, Croatian politician * Nikola Milošević (politician), Serbian intellectual * Nikola Mushanov, Bulgarian politician *

Nikola Pašić Nikola Pašić ( sr-Cyrl, Никола Пашић, ; 18 December 1845 – 10 December 1926) was a Serbian and Yugoslav politician and diplomat. During his political career, which spanned almost five decades, he served five times as prime minis ...

, Serbian politician and diplomat * Nikola Petkov, Bulgarian politician * Nikola Šećeroski, Serbian politician * Nikola Špirić, Bosnian Serb politician * Nikola Uzunović, Serbian politician *

Nikola Vitov Gučetić Nikola Vitov Gučetić (, ; 1549–1610) was a Ragusan statesman, polymath, philosopher, science writer and author of one of the first scientific dissertations regarding speleology. Life Gučetić was born in Ragusa (now Dubrovnik, Croatia), i ...

, Ragusian statesman * Nikola Zhekov, Bulgarian military

Science

* Nikola Moravčević, Serbian academic * Nikola Obreshkov, Bulgarian mathematician *

Nikola Tesla Nikola Tesla (;"Tesla"
. ''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary''. ; 10 July 1856 – 7 ...

, Serbian-American inventor and mechanical engineer * Nikola Moushmov, Bulgarian historian

Sports

* Nikola Brejchová, Czech athlete * Nikola Dragović, Serbian basketball player *

Nikola Grbić Nikola Grbić ( sr-cyrl, Никола Грбић; born 6 September 1973) is a Serbian professional volleyball coach and former player who is currently serving as head coach for the Poland national team. Grbić is a gold medalist of the 2000 Sum ...

, Serbian volleyball player * Nikola Jakšić, Serbian water polo player, Olympic champion *

Nikola Jerkan Nikola Jerkan (born 8 December 1964) is a Croatian former professional footballer who played as a defender. He started playing football professionally for NK Zagreb. Playing career Club Jerkan was born in Split. He started his career in youth ...

, Croatian footballer *

Nikola Jokić Nikola Jokić ( ; sr-Cyrl, Никола Јокић ; born February 19, 1995) is a Serbian professional basketball player who is a Center (basketball), center for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the ...

, Serbian basketball player * Nikola Jovanović, Montenegrin footballer *

Nikola Jović Nikola Jović ( sr-Cyrl, Никола Јовић, ; born 9 June 2003) is a Serbian professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected 27th overall by the Heat in the 2022 NBA draft. ...

, Serbian basketball player * Nikola Jovović, Serbian volleyball player * Nikola Jurčević, Croatian footballer * Nikola Kalinić, Serbian basketball player * Nikola Karabatić, French team handball player * Nikola Katić, Croatian football player * Nikola Kotkov, Bulgarian footballer *

Nikola Kovachev Nikola Dimitrov Kovachev (; Blagoevgrad, 4 June 1934 – Sofia, 26 November 2009) was a Bulgarian football player and manager. Kovachev played for Bulgaria at the 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics. He coached Hebar Pazardzhik and CSKA Sofia. Hono ...

, Bulgarian footballer * Nikola Kovačević, Serbian volleyball player *

Niko Kranjčar Niko Kranjčar (; born 13 August 1984) is a Croatian former professional Association football, footballer. He primarily played as an attacking midfielder, but could also operate as a Midfielder (association football)#Winger, winger or Forward (a ...

, Croatian footballer * Nikola Kuljača, Serbian waterpolo goalkeeper *

Nikola Lazetić Nikola Lazetić (; born 9 February 1978) is a Serbian retired footballer who played as a winger. Club career Born in Kosovska Mitrovica, Lazetić started out at his hometown club Trepča. He was later discovered by Tomislav Milićević who bro ...

, Serbian footballer * Nikola Lončar, Serbian basketball player *

Nikola Maraš Nikola Maraš (, ; born 19 December 1995) is a Serbian professional Association football, footballer who plays as a centre-back for Spanish club Sporting de Gijón, on loan from Deportivo Alavés. Club career Rad On 26 May 2013, Maraš made his ...

, Serbian footballer * Nikola Mijailović, Serbian footballer * Nikola Milojević, Serbian football goalkeeper * Nikola Milošević, Serbian football midfielder * Nikola Mirotić, Spanish basketball player of Montenegrin descent * Nikola Nikezić, Montenegrin footballer * Nikola Nikić, Bosnian Serb footballer * Nikola Nimac, Croatian racer * Nikola Peković, Montenegrin basketball player * Nikola Petroff, Bulgarian wrestler *

Nikola Pilić Nikola "Niki" Pilić (born 27 August 1939) is a Croatian former professional tennis player who competed for SFR Yugoslavia. He was one of the Handsome Eight. Pilić was ranked world No. 6 in January 1968 and world No. 7 for 1967 by Lance Tin ...

, Yugoslav Croat professional tennis player * Nikola Pokrivač, Croatian footballer * Nikola Rosić, Serbian volleyball player * Nikola Rybanská (born 1995), Slovak footballer * Nikola Soldo (born 2001), Croatian footballer * Nikola Stojić (born 1974), Serbian rower * Nikola Sudová (born 1982), Czech freestyle skier * Nikola Tsolov (born 2006), Bulgarian racing driver * Nikola Vignjević, Serbian footballer *

Nikola Vlašić Nikola Vlašić (; born 4 October 1997) is a Croatian professional Association football, footballer who plays as an Midfielder (association football)#Attacking midfielder, attacking midfielder for Italian Serie A club Torino FC, Torino and the C ...

, Croatian footballer * Nikola Vučević, Montenegrin basketball player *

Nikola Vujčić Nikola Vujčić (born 14 June 1978) is a Croatian former professional basketball player, and the current general manager (basketball), team manager of the Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C., Maccabi Tel Aviv. During his playing career, he played ...

(born 1978), Croatian basketball player and team manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv *

Nikola Žigić Nikola Žigić ( sr-cyr, Никола Жигић, ; born 25 September 1980) is a Serbian former professional footballer who played as a centre forward. Žigić was born in Bačka Topola, in what was then SFR Yugoslavia. He began playing footbal ...

, Serbian footballer

Other

* Nikola Modruški, Croatian catholic priest * Nikola Radosavljević, Serbian mass murderer * Nicholas Nikola Ribic, Serbian-Canadian convicted for hostage-taking * List Nikola Stojanović (disambiguation), name shared by several individuals

Fictional characters

* Doctor Nikola, a fictional supervillain in works of Guy Boothby

References

{{Reflist Bosnian masculine given names Bulgarian masculine given names Croatian masculine given names Masculine given names Czech feminine given names Macedonian masculine given names Russian masculine given names Serbian masculine given names Slovak feminine given names Ukrainian masculine given names Polish feminine given names Feminine given names Unisex given names