Name of the Day: Nicholas
December 6
St. Nicholas died December 6, 343. Also known as Nicholas of Bari and Nicholas the Wonderworker (we love anyone with multiple names), his habit of secret gift-giving made him the OG Santa Claus.
A Greek bishop, St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children, pharmacists, archers, pawnbrokers, prostitutes, single people — and of course, name nerds. In celebration of his name day on December 6, the Dutch, Belgians, Hungarians, and residents of several other places in Europe give traditional gifts such as chocolate.
Nicholas is a Greek name meaning “people of victory”. It shares origins with Nike, the goddess of victory, and has spawned many popular variations of its own, including Nico, Nicole, Cole, and Colin.
A Top 10 name from 1993 to 2002, Nicholas still ranks among the Top 100 boys’ names in the US, Australia, and Sweden. It’s a true classic boy name that’s also cool, an unbeatable combination.