Nils is a Scandinavian given name, the Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish form of Nicholas. It is also a variant of Niels, which is a cognate of Nicholas. The name Nicholas derives from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people," from nike (victory) and laos (people). Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop from Anatolia, is the patron saint of children, sailors, and merchants, and his legendary generosity inspired the figure of Santa Claus. Etymology and History Nils is rooted in the Greek Nikolaos, which entered the Germanic languages via Latin Nicolaus. In Scandinavia, the name evolved into forms like Niels and Nils. It has been in use since the Middle Ages, popularized by the cult of Saint Nicholas. Scandinavian kings and nobles have borne the name, though it is more widespread among the general population. In the 19th century, Nils gained international recognition through literary works such as Selma Lagerlöf's The Wonderful Adventures of Nils. Notable Bearers Notable bearers include Nils Dacke (died 1543), a Swedish rebel leader; Nils Ericson (1802–1870), a Swedish inventor and engineer; Nils Frahm (born 1982), a German pianist and producer; Nils Grandelius (born 1993), a Swedish chess grandmaster; and Nils Lahr (born 1973), an American entrepreneur. Among fictional characters, Nils is the protagonist of Selma Lagerlöf's classic novel The Wonderful Adventures of Nils. Cultural Significance In Scandinavia, Nils has remained consistently popular. The name has several variant forms: Claes, Clas, and Klas in Swedish; and Nels and the diminutive Nis in Danish. As a patronymic, it gave rise to surnames such as Nelson, Nilsen, and Nilsson in Sweden and Norway. Meaning: victory of the people Origin: Scandinavian form of Nicholas; ultimately Greek Type: Given name Usage regions: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, also Iceland and to a lesser extent in Latvia