Nicholas

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Nicholas is a male name, the Anglophone version of an ancient Greek name in use since antiquity, and cognate with the modern Greek Script error: No such module "Lang"., Script error: No such module "lang".. 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.[1][2]

Origins

The name derives from the Template:Langx.[3] It is understood to mean 'victory of the people', being a compound of two Greek words, Script error: No such module "Lang"., Script error: No such module "Lang". 'victory'[4] and Script error: No such module "Lang"., Script error: No such module "Lang". 'people'.[5] An ancient[5] paretymology (a false etymology) of the latter element, Script error: No such module "Lang"., is that it originates from Script error: No such module "Lang"., Script error: No such module "lang". (a contracted form of Script error: No such module "Lang"., Script error: No such module "lang".), meaning 'stone' or 'rock'.[6] 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.[7]

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.[citation needed]

In Scotland, until the late nineteenth century, fishing communities used Nicholas as a female name.[8][9]

Male variations

Variations for males include:[10][11]

Female forms

Female forms include:[10]

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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Template:Nicholas-surname

References

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  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Greece". St. Nicholas Center. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022.
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.English, Adam C. (2012). "Death Is Only the Beginning". The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus: The true life and trials of Nicholas of Myra. Waco, Texas (USA): Baylor University Press. pp. 165–191. ISBN 978-1-60258-634-5.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Saint Nicholas: The story behind the legendary figure that inspired the modern-day Santa". Newshub. Archived from the original on December 23, 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-02.
  4. ^ Template:LSJ.
  5. ^ a b Template:LSJ.
  6. ^ Template:LSJ.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Thucydides. "2.67". History of the Peloponnesian War. At the Perseus Project digital library.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Details for the forename Nicholas". www.whatsinaname.net.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Forenames: Ambiguous names". ScotlandsPeople. Gov.UK. Names that, today, we would normally associate with boys were occasionally (mainly in the North of Scotland) given to girls and vice versa, for example, Nicholas.
  10. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Nicholas". Behind the Name.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Nikolai". Nordic Names.
  12. ^ Makaleler. Turuk Dergisi.
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