Nicolas vs Pavel
Nicolas and Pavelcompared 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 2013, Nicolas was ranked #208 and Pavel #513 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Nicolas was ranked #275 and Pavel #655 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Nicolas was ranked #363 and Pavel #1705 among boys in England and Wales.
Nicolas and Pavel over time
Nicolas and Pavel appear together in 3 published lists, across 57 years of shared records. Nicolas held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Pavel in 0.
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.
Pavel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Nicolas in 1. 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
Nicolas and Pavel changed places 7 times in Norway · Boys between 1969 and 2013, ending at #208 and #513.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Nicolas #252 in 2019, Pavel #1192 in 2020.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys25 shared years, 1999–2025
Nicolas held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Pavel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Nicolas #252 in 2019, Pavel #1192 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nicolas #363, Pavel #1705.
Norway · Boys22 shared years, 1969–2013
Nicolas held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Pavel in 6.
Highest recorded here: Nicolas #208 in 2013, Pavel #348 in 1987.
The order changed in 1986: Nicolas moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #476 and #424; by 1986 that had become #397 and #479.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Nicolas #208, Pavel #513.
Republic of Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 2003–2024
Nicolas held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Pavel in 1.
Highest recorded here: Nicolas #214 in 2009, Pavel #375 in 2003.
The order changed in 2007: Nicolas moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #596 and #596; by 2007 that had become #282 and #629.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nicolas #275, Pavel #655.
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 | Nicolas | Pavel |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | The French form of Nicholas, from Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people) — literally 'victory of the people'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek, via French transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ni.kɔ.la/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #211 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #1705 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicolas has a recorded origin (Greek, via French transmission); Pavel does not have one recorded yet.
- Nicolas has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Pavel.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicolas; Pavel doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Nicolas
Popularity journey
First recorded1959
First recorded at #473 among boys in Norway in 1959 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1959–2025
Highest recorded position: #148 among boys in Norway, in 2015 (recorded 1959–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #363 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Pavel
Popularity journey
First recorded1958
First recorded at #476 among boys in Norway in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1958–2013
Highest recorded position: #348 among boys in Norway, in 1987 (recorded 1958–2013).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1705 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys