Colin vs Nikolai
Colin and Nikolaicompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #119 and Nikolai #103 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #348 and Nikolai #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #1538 and Nikolai #1226 among boys in England and Wales.
Colin and Nikolai over time
Colin and Nikolai appear together in 2 published lists, across 72 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Colin and Nikolai changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1538 and #1226.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and Nikolai were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1538 and #1226.
List by list
Norway · Boys42 shared years, 1946–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Nikolai in 38.
Highest recorded here: Colin #119 in 2025, Nikolai #41 in 2004.
The order changed in 1974: Nikolai moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #326 and #488; by 1974 that had become #599 and #384.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #119, Nikolai #103.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Nikolai in 3.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Nikolai #894 in 2019.
The order changed in 2025: Nikolai moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #1000 and #1235; by 2025 that had become #1538 and #1226.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #1538, Nikolai #1226.
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 Colin
Pairs where Colin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Colin vs Ronald
In 1964 they stood at #89 and #89 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 0 places apart; by 2012 they were #169 and #718.
Colin · Ronald · 34 shared years, 1964–2012 · Started together, ended far apart
- Gary vs Colin
In 1964 they stood at #84 and #89 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #785 and #302.
Gary · Colin · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Harry vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #87 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2021 they were #10 and #433.
Harry · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Colin | Nikolai |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #119 (2025) | Norway · Boys #103 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Colin has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Nikolai.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Colin
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #326 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1983
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1983).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1538 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Nikolai
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #349 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1946–2025
Highest recorded position: #41 among boys in Norway, in 2004 (recorded 1946–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1226 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys