Nikita
UnisexNikita has been given to 13,668 babies in the U.S. since 1949. It peaked in 1986. In 2025, about 1 in 51,847 girls was named Nikita.
Meaning & origin
From the Russian Ники́та (Nikíta), a male given name, from Ancient Greek Νικήτας (Nikḗtas, “conqueror”) also a male given name (and name of various saints). The Greek word derives from νῑ́κη (nī́kē, “victory”). Made known in the West by Nikita Khrushchev, Soviet Union leader in 1953–1964. It was reanalyzed as a form of Nicholas and taken up as a girls' name first in French and then in English.
Origin: Ancient Greek
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Popularity over time births per year, 1880–2025
Total babies
13,668
Peak year
1986 (1,066 babies)
Rank in 2025
Below top 1000
First recorded
1949
10-year trend
▼ -70%
Gender split
79% girls / 21% boys
Rank through the decades
Nikita's rank among U.S. girl names at 25-year milestones.
| Year | Girls rank |
|---|---|
| 1975 | #821 |
| 2000 | #884 |
— means outside the top 1000 that year.
Famous people named Nikita
Nikita Khrushchev
Leader of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964
Nikita Mikhalkov
Russian film director, writer, producer and actor (born 1945)
Nikita Mazepin
Russian racing driver
Hyacinth
Russian sinologist, historian, and missionary (1777–1853)
Notability data from Wikidata (CC0).
Names with a similar vibe
Same primary gender, peaked around the same years, and roughly as common as Nikita.
Sibling name ideas for Nikita
Same era and popularity as Nikita, avoiding matching initials or rhymes.
FAQ
How popular is the name Nikita?
Nikita has been given to 13,668 babies in the U.S. since 1949. It ranked below the top 1000 in 2025.
When did the name Nikita peak?
Nikita peaked in 1986, when 1,066 babies were given the name.
Is Nikita a girl or boy name?
Nikita is a unisex name, used for both girls and boys.
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