Dominic vs Nicholas
Dominic 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 2010, Dominic was ranked #84 and Nicholas #75 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2020, Dominic was ranked #94 and Nicholas #79 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Dominic was ranked #159 and Nicholas #198 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Dominic was ranked #234 and Nicholas #191 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Dominic was ranked #476 and Nicholas #203 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Dominic was ranked #205 and Nicholas #214 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Dominic was ranked #239 and Nicholas #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Dominic and Nicholas over time
Dominic and Nicholas appear together in 6 published lists, across 183 years of shared records. Nicholas held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Dominic in 2.
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 2 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2018, Dominic moved ahead of Nicholas in Northern Ireland · Boys — #279 and #214 the year before became #178 and #283.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Dominic and Nicholas changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #239 and #305.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Dominic and Nicholas averaged 25.3 places apart, ending at #205 and #214.
- Longest-running competitions
Dominic and Nicholas were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #205 and #214.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Dominic #51 in 1996, Nicholas #52 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Dominic held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Nicholas in 57.
Highest recorded here: Dominic #84 in 1964, Nicholas #58 in 1964.
The order changed in 2025: Dominic moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #240 and #162; by 2025 that had become #159 and #198.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dominic #159, Nicholas #198.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Dominic held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Nicholas in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dominic #51 in 1996, Nicholas #52 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dominic #205, Nicholas #214.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1987–2020
Dominic held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nicholas in 28.
Highest recorded here: Dominic #63 in 2005, Nicholas #6 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Dominic #94, Nicholas #79.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Dominic held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Nicholas in 12.
Highest recorded here: Dominic #118 in 1997, Nicholas #104 in 2000.
The order changed in 2018: Dominic moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #279 and #214; by 2018 that had become #178 and #283.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dominic #239, Nicholas #305.
Norway · Boys24 shared years, 1976–2024
Dominic held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nicholas in 24.
Highest recorded here: Dominic #283 in 2007, Nicholas #133 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dominic #476, Nicholas #203.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 1998–2010
Dominic held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nicholas in 11.
Highest recorded here: Dominic #65 in 2002, Nicholas #21 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Dominic #84, Nicholas #75.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Dominic | 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 | /ˈnɪk.ə.ləs/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 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 #159 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #198 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicholas has a recorded origin (Greek); Dominic does not have one recorded yet.
- Dominic and Nicholas both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicholas; Dominic 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
Dominic
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #84 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #51 among boys in England and Wales, in 1996 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #205 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