Aiden vs Nicholas
Aiden and Nicholascompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2011, Aiden was ranked #50 and Nicholas #94 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Aiden was ranked #70 and Nicholas #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Aiden was ranked #135 and Nicholas #191 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Aiden was ranked #149 and Nicholas #198 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Aiden was ranked #170 and Nicholas #214 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Aiden was ranked #216 and Nicholas #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Aiden was ranked #301 and Nicholas #325 among boys in Norway.
Aiden and Nicholas over time
Aiden and Nicholas appear together in 5 published lists, across 165 years of shared records. Nicholas held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Aiden in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Nicholas reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Aiden in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2006, Aiden moved ahead of Nicholas in England and Wales · Boys — #110 and #106 the year before became #106 and #107.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Aiden and Nicholas changed places 11 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #216 and #305.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Aiden and Nicholas averaged 41.7 places apart, ending at #170 and #214.
- Longest-running competitions
Aiden and Nicholas were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #170 and #214.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Aiden held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Nicholas in 60.
Highest recorded here: Aiden #92 in 1968, Nicholas #58 in 1964.
The order changed in 2025: Aiden moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #207 and #162; by 2025 that had become #149 and #198.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aiden #149, Nicholas #198.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Aiden held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Nicholas in 10.
Highest recorded here: Aiden #61 in 2011, Nicholas #52 in 1996.
The order changed in 2006: Aiden moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #110 and #106; by 2006 that had become #106 and #107.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aiden #170, Nicholas #214.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Aiden held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Nicholas in 16.
Highest recorded here: Aiden #149 in 2011, Nicholas #104 in 2000.
The order changed in 2022: Aiden moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #326 and #295; by 2022 that had become #285 and #352.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aiden #216, Nicholas #305.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys25 shared years, 1999–2024
Aiden held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Nicholas in 14.
Highest recorded here: Aiden #33 in 2010, Nicholas #6 in 2002.
The order changed in 2013: Aiden moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #45 and #34; by 2013 that had become #44 and #47.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aiden #70, Nicholas #91.
Norway · Boys21 shared years, 1992–2025
Aiden held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Nicholas in 17.
Highest recorded here: Aiden #212 in 2017, Nicholas #133 in 2010.
The order changed in 2025: Aiden moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #245 and #203; by 2025 that had become #301 and #325.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aiden #301, Nicholas #325.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Nicholas
Pairs where Nicholas shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Nicholas vs Scott
In 1996 they stood at #52 and #48 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #214 and #845.
Nicholas · Scott · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Stephen vs Nicholas
In 1996 they stood at #60 and #52 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #214.
Stephen · Nicholas · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sean vs Nicholas
In 1996 they stood at #49 and #52 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #615 and #214.
Sean · Nicholas · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Cillian vs Nicholas
Over 55 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Cillian rose about as far as Nicholas fell — from #305 and #81 in 1970 to #9 and #198 in 2025.
Cillian · Nicholas · 55 shared years, 1970–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Aiden | Nicholas |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Greek Nikolaos, combining 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people) — 'victory of the people'. Associated with Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop and the inspiration for Santa Claus. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈnɪk.ə.ləs/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #149 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #198 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicholas has a recorded origin (Greek); Aiden does not have one recorded yet.
- Aiden has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Nicholas.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicholas; Aiden doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Aiden
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #94 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1999–2024
Highest recorded position: #33 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2010 (recorded 1999–2024).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #170 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Nicholas
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #384 among boys in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1955–2024
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002 (recorded 1955–2024).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #214 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys