Nicholas

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Template:Short description {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Infobox given name

Nicholas is a male name, the Anglophone version of an ancient Greek name in use since antiquity, and cognate with the modern Greek Template:Lang, Template:Transliteration. It originally derived from a combination of two Greek words meaning 'victory' and 'people'. In turn, the name means "victory of the people."

The name has been widely used in countries with significant Christian populations, owing in part to the veneration of Saint Nicholas, which became increasingly prominent in Western Europe from the 11th century. Revered as a saint in many Christian denominations, the Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, and Anglican Churches all celebrate Saint Nicholas Day on December 6. In maritime regions throughout Europe, the name and its derivatives have been especially popular, as St Nicholas is considered the protector saint of seafarers. This remains particularly so in Greece, where St Nicholas is the patron saint of the Hellenic Navy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Origins

The name derives from the Template:Langx.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It is understood to mean 'victory of the people', being a compound of two Greek words, Template:Lang, Template:Lang 'victory'<ref>Template:LSJ.</ref> and Template:Lang, Template:Lang 'people'.<ref name="laos">Template:LSJ.</ref> An ancient<ref name="laos" /> paretymology (a false etymology) of the latter element, Template:Lang, is that it originates from Template:Lang, Template:Transliteration (a contracted form of Template:Lang, Template:Transliteration), meaning 'stone' or 'rock'.<ref>Template:LSJ.</ref> This is in reference to the story of Deucalion and Pyrrha from Greek mythology. As the sole survivors of a catastrophic deluge, they were able to repopulate the world by throwing stones behind them, over their shoulders, while they kept marching on. The stones formed men and women where they landed.

The name became popular through Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra in Lycia, the inspiration for Santa Claus, but it predates said bishop by several centuries: the Athenian historian Thucydides for example, mentions that in the second year of the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC) between Sparta and Athens, the Spartans sent a delegation to the Persian king to ask for his help to fight the Athenians; a certain Nikolaos was one of the delegates.<ref>Template:Cite book At the Perseus Project digital library.</ref>

The customary English spelling Nicholas, using a ch, as though the word were spelled in Greek with a chi, first came into use in the 12th century and has been firmly established since the Reformation, although the spelling Nicolas is occasionally used.Template:Citation needed

In Scotland, until the late nineteenth century, fishing communities used Nicholas as a female name.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web

  • For an example of such use for females, see this description of a 1754 case of an executed woman, Nicholas Cockburn: Template:Cite book</ref>

Male variations

Variations for males include:<ref name="behindthename.com">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="nordicnames.de">Template:Cite web</ref>

Female forms

Female forms include:<ref name="behindthename.com"/>

People known as Nicholas

Single name (rulers, popes, patriarch and antipopes)

Given name

Nobility

Saints

Catholic

Eastern Orthodox

Surname

See also

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References

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