Nicolau
/N-IH-K-OW-L-AA-UH/
The Portuguese form of Nicholas, from Greek Nikolaos, joining nike 'victory' and laos 'people' to mean 'victory of the people.' Sharing its root with Italian Niccolo and Russian Nikolai, it has been borne by saints, poets, and countless Portuguese Catholic families, naming a child as the triumph of his community.
Get Nicolau's full report — patron saint, feast day & a portrait — freeQuick — what every Christian parent asks about Nicolau:
How well does Nicolau fit your family?
This page tells you what Nicolau means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against your family & your heritage, and your baby's birth details.
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Six signals — scored for your family & heritage, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Yes — Nicolau is a Christian boy name of Portuguese origin, meaning “The Portuguese form of Nicholas, from Greek Nikolaos, joining nike 'victory' and laos 'people' to mean 'victory of the people.' Sharing its root with Italian Niccolo and Russian Nikolai, it has been borne by saints, poets, and countless Portuguese Catholic families, naming a child as the triumph of his community.”.
Nicolau is a boy's name of Portuguese origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "The Portuguese form of Nicholas, from Greek Nikolaos, joining nike 'victory' and laos 'people' to mean 'victory of the people.' Sharing its root with Italian Niccolo and Russian Nikolai, it has been borne by saints, poets, and countless Portuguese Catholic families, naming a child as the triumph of his community." and belongs to the Courage cluster — names for children who will grow into bold, fearless hearts.
Common among Portuguese, Brazilian, Angolan, Mozambican, CapeVerdean families, Nicolau carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
The patron saint & feast day behind Nicolau
Many Christian names carry a patron saint and a feast day (name day) — a tradition of choosing a name for the saint a child is born near, or one the family holds dear. Nicolau lives in this tradition of meaning and heritage.
NameRoot connects the dots. See Nicolau's patron saint, its feast day, and whether it aligns with your baby's birth — alongside its full family score.
See Nicolau's saint & feast day →What does Nicolau's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Nicolau resonates in either tradition.
Nicolau's destiny number is 3 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Nicolau's full reading →
Does Nicolau go with your family's names?
Nicolau breaks into 7 sounds: /N-IH-K-OW-L-AA-UH/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Nicolau sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Nicolau beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of Nicolau — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Names similar to Nicolau
If Nicolau resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Christian boy names, common in Portuguese families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian boy names from the Courage cluster
Names that sound similar
Christian boy names that open with the same syllables as Nicolau
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Nicolau — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Nicolau
What does the name Nicolau mean?
Nicolau means "The Portuguese form of Nicholas, from Greek Nikolaos, joining nike 'victory' and laos 'people' to mean 'victory of the people.' Sharing its root with Italian Niccolo and Russian Nikolai, it has been borne by saints, poets, and countless Portuguese Catholic families, naming a child as the triumph of his community.." It is a boy name of Portuguese origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is Nicolau a boy or girl name?
Nicolau is most commonly used as a boy name.
What is the origin of the name Nicolau?
Nicolau is of Portuguese origin, used in Christian tradition, commonly among Portuguese, Brazilian, Angolan families.
Is Nicolau a Christian name?
Yes. Nicolau is a boy name traditionally used in Christian families, of Portuguese origin.
What does Nicolau mean in Portuguese?
Nicolau originates from Portuguese, where it means "The Portuguese form of Nicholas, from Greek Nikolaos, joining nike 'victory' and laos 'people' to mean 'victory of the people.' Sharing its root with Italian Niccolo and Russian Nikolai, it has been borne by saints, poets, and countless Portuguese Catholic families, naming a child as the triumph of his community.."
What are common nicknames for Nicolau?
Common short forms of Nicolau include Nico.
What is the numerology of Nicolau?
Nicolau has a Pythagorean destiny number of 3 — creativity and joyful expression.
When is Nicolau's feast day?
Nicolau's feast day — its traditional Christian name day — is December 6.
See how Nicolau scores for your family
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