Nikolaj is a Slavic form of Nicholas, ultimately from Greek, meaning "victory of the people."
Nikolaj is the Danish and Slovenian form of Nicholas, tracing back to the ancient Greek Nikolaos (Νικόλαος) — a compound of nike (victory) and laos (people), yielding the meaning "victory of the people." The name has one of the longest and most geographically widespread histories of any European given name, carried by saints, emperors, scientists, and storytellers across twenty centuries. Saint Nicholas of Myra, the fourth-century bishop whose legendary generosity seeded the Santa Claus tradition, gave the name its enduring association with giving and warmth.
In Scandinavia and Denmark, Nikolaj has been in use since the medieval Christianization of the North, appearing in royal genealogies, Lutheran church records, and the sagas. Copenhagen's famous Nikolaj Kirke — one of the city's oldest churches, now an art center — bears the name and places it at the heart of Danish cultural identity. The spelling distinguishes it from the more common English Nicholas and the Russian Nikolai, giving it a specifically Nordic character that carries connotations of clean design, understated cool, and a certain Scandinavian poise.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, the Danish actor widely known for his role in Game of Thrones, brought the name into global popular consciousness in the 2010s, making it familiar to audiences who might otherwise have encountered only the anglicized form. Today, Nikolaj appeals to parents who want a name rooted in ancient meaning but worn with a modern European lightness.