Nicole is a feminine given name that originated as the French feminine form of Nicholas. It has become widely used in English-speaking and other European countries since the middle of the 20th century. A famous contemporary bearer is American-Australian actress Nicole Kidman (born 1967).EtymologyThe name Nicole derives from the masculine Nicholas, which comes from the Ancient Greek name Νικόλαος (Nikólaos), composed of the nike 'victory' and laos 'people', thus meaning "victory of the people". The French feminine form Nicole emerged in the Middle Ages, and it originally coexisted with a masculine usage (e.g., the 14th-century philosopher Nicole Oresme).History and UsageThe Greek name Nicholas gained widespread popularity due to Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop from Anatolia known for his generosity, who became the model for Santa Claus. While the masculine form has been common, Nicole's popularity as a feminine name surged in the 20th century, especially in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. It fell out of the top 100 girls' names in the US after 2010, but remains recognizable internationally.Variants and Related FormsThe name Nicole has numerous variants in different languages. English spellings include Nichole, Nikole, and Nikkole. French diminutives include Colette, Coline, and Nicolette. English diminutives include Nicki, Nicky, and Niki. The masculine French equivalent is Nicolas. Other language forms include Nikole in Basque, Nikol in Greek, Nikoleta in Slovak, and Nikolina in Slovene, among others.Notable BearersBesides Nicole Kidman, other notable namesakes include singers Nicole (Chilean singer), Nicole Appleton (Canadian-born English singer), and Nicole Dollanganger (Canadian singer-songwriter), as well as opera singer Nicole Cabell.Meaning: "Victory of the people"Origin: French feminine form of NicholasType: Given nameUsage: Primarily English, French, German, Italian, Dutch