Emmanuel vs Nicholas
Emmanuel 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Emmanuel was ranked #727 and Nicholas #191 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Emmanuel was ranked #286 and Nicholas #198 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Emmanuel was ranked #242 and Nicholas #211 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Emmanuel was ranked #398 and Nicholas #281 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Emmanuel was ranked #349 and Nicholas #325 among boys in Norway.
Emmanuel and Nicholas over time
Emmanuel and Nicholas appear together in 3 published lists, across 115 years of shared records. Nicholas held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Emmanuel in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 3 of those lists, and Emmanuel 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Emmanuel and Nicholas changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1966 and 2025, ending at #349 and #325.
- Longest-running competitions
Emmanuel and Nicholas were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 47 years, from 1966 to 2025, ending at #349 and #325.
List by list
Norway · Boys47 shared years, 1966–2025
Emmanuel held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Nicholas in 44.
Highest recorded here: Emmanuel #327 in 2018, Nicholas #126 in 2004.
The order changed in 1981: Nicholas moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #571 and #591; by 1981 that had become #587 and #382.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emmanuel #349, Nicholas #325.
Republic of Ireland · Boys39 shared years, 1966–2025
Emmanuel held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Nicholas in 34.
Highest recorded here: Emmanuel #95 in 2003, Nicholas #63 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emmanuel #286, Nicholas #198.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emmanuel held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nicholas in 29.
Highest recorded here: Emmanuel #166 in 2006, Nicholas #52 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emmanuel #242, Nicholas #211.
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 | Emmanuel | 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #286 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #198 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicholas has a recorded origin (Greek); Emmanuel does not have one recorded yet.
- Emmanuel and Nicholas both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicholas; Emmanuel doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Emmanuel
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #504 among boys in Norway in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1966–2025
Highest recorded position: #95 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2003 (recorded 1966–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #349 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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 #325 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys