Haavard vs Nicholas
Haavard 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2008, Haavard was ranked #552 and Nicholas #149 among boys in Norway.
Haavard and Nicholas over time
Haavard and Nicholas appear together in 1 published list, across 17 years of shared records. Nicholas held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Haavard 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.
Haavard reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Nicholas 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.
List by list
Norway · Boys17 shared years, 1961–2008
Haavard held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Nicholas in 14.
Highest recorded here: Haavard #391 in 1961, Nicholas #136 in 2006.
The order changed in 1992: Nicholas moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #499 and #591; by 1992 that had become #544 and #225.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Haavard #552, Nicholas #149.
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 2024 they were #211 and #1025.
Nicholas · Scott · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · 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 2024 they were #651 and #211.
Stephen · Nicholas · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · 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 2024 they were #638 and #211.
Sean · Nicholas · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · 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 | Haavard | 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 | NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #552 (2008) | 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) | 40/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicholas has a recorded origin (Greek); Haavard does not have one recorded yet.
- Haavard has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Nicholas.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicholas; Haavard doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in NO.
How each name got here
Haavard
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #386 among boys in Norway in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1953–2008
Highest recorded position: #386 among boys in Norway, in 1953 (recorded 1953–2008).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2008
Most recently recorded at #552 among boys in Norway, in 2008.
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