Lachlan vs Nicholas
Lachlan 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 2011, Lachlan was ranked #20 and Nicholas #94 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Lachlan was ranked #38 and Nicholas #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Lachlan was ranked #88 and Nicholas #191 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Lachlan was ranked #317 and Nicholas #198 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Lachlan was ranked #328 and Nicholas #211 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Lachlan was ranked #278 and Nicholas #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Lachlan and Nicholas over time
Lachlan and Nicholas appear together in 5 published lists, across 118 years of shared records. Nicholas held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Lachlan in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 5 of those lists, and Lachlan 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Lachlan moved ahead of Nicholas in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #24 and #7 the year before became #7 and #9.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 41 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Lachlan and Nicholas averaged 31.5 places apart, ending at #38 and #91.
- Longest-running competitions
Lachlan and Nicholas were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 41 years, from 1982 to 2024, ending at #38 and #91.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys41 shared years, 1982–2024
Lachlan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Nicholas in 14.
Highest recorded here: Lachlan #2 in 2005, Nicholas #6 in 2002.
The order changed in 1997: Lachlan moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #24 and #7; by 1997 that had become #7 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lachlan #38, Nicholas #91.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Lachlan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nicholas in 29.
Highest recorded here: Lachlan #328 in 2024, Nicholas #52 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lachlan #328, Nicholas #211.
Republic of Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2025
Lachlan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nicholas in 24.
Highest recorded here: Lachlan #263 in 2016, Nicholas #109 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lachlan #317, Nicholas #198.
New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1997–2011
Lachlan held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Nicholas in 5.
Highest recorded here: Lachlan #20 in 2011, Nicholas #19 in 1997.
The order changed in 2003: Lachlan moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #35 and #33; by 2003 that had become #29 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Lachlan #20, Nicholas #94.
Northern Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 1998–2024
Lachlan held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Nicholas in 6.
Highest recorded here: Lachlan #226 in 2021, Nicholas #117 in 1998.
The order changed in 2023: Lachlan moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #352 and #352; by 2023 that had become #272 and #312.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lachlan #278, 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 | Lachlan | Nicholas |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally understood as 'Viking' or 'Scandinavian' via its root name — someone associated with the land of the Norsemen. A secondary reading of that root gives 'land of the lakes'. | 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 | Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised), from Lochlann ('Scandinavia') | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈlɒklən/ | /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 #34 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #198 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Lachlan is recorded with a Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised), from Lochlann ('Scandinavia') origin, while Nicholas is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Lachlan has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Nicholas.
- Lachlan'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
Lachlan
Popularity journey
First recorded1982
First recorded at #95 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1982–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2005 (recorded 1982–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #34 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