Nico is the short form of Nicholas and its Italian and Spanish relatives Nicolò and Nicolás, and so means "victory of the people", from the Greek nike and laos. In Italy, Spain and the Netherlands it has long stood on its own, and American parents have taken to its brisk, friendly sound. Nico ranked 843rd in the United States in 2000, has risen almost every year since 2016 and reached number 174 in 2025, its best rank in this century.