Hudson vs Nicholas
Hudson 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Hudson was ranked #7 and Nicholas #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Hudson was ranked #42 and Nicholas #211 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Hudson was ranked #54 and Nicholas #191 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Hudson was ranked #99 and Nicholas #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Hudson was ranked #188 and Nicholas #198 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Hudson and Nicholas over time
Hudson and Nicholas appear together in 4 published lists, across 66 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 4 of those lists, and Hudson 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Hudson moved into the top 50 at #36 in 2015 as Nicholas fell out of it to #55, having been #43 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2017, Hudson moved ahead of Nicholas in England and Wales · Boys — #154 and #151 the year before became #135 and #147.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Hudson and Nicholas changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 2013 and 2024, ending at #99 and #305.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Hudson held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Nicholas in 21.
Highest recorded here: Hudson #42 in 2024, Nicholas #52 in 1996.
The order changed in 2017: Hudson moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #154 and #151; by 2017 that had become #135 and #147.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hudson #42, Nicholas #211.
Republic of Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2012–2025
Hudson held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Nicholas in 11.
Highest recorded here: Hudson #143 in 2023, Nicholas #125 in 2015.
The order changed in 2025: Hudson moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #169 and #162; by 2025 that had become #188 and #198.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hudson #188, Nicholas #198.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys12 shared years, 2012–2024
Hudson held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Nicholas in 3.
Highest recorded here: Hudson #7 in 2024, Nicholas #34 in 2012.
The order changed in 2015: Hudson moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #45 and #43; by 2015 that had become #36 and #55.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hudson #7, Nicholas #91.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 2013–2024
Hudson held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Nicholas in 2.
Highest recorded here: Hudson #76 in 2023, Nicholas #201 in 2015.
The order changed in 2018: Hudson moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #214 and #214; by 2018 that had become #114 and #283.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hudson #99, Nicholas #305.
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 | Hudson | Nicholas |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | 'Son of Hudde', an English surname associated with explorer Henry Hudson. | 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 | English (patronymic surname) | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhʌd.sən/ | /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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #8 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #198 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Hudson is recorded with a English (patronymic surname) origin, while Nicholas is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Hudson has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Nicholas.
- Hudson's recorded meaning differs from Nicholas's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Hudson
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #2863 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2012–2025
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2012–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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