Nicole

Nicole is the French feminine form of Nicholas, rooted in the Greek nike and laos, together meaning victory of the people. It arrived in English-speaking countries in the mid-twentieth century and became a full-blown phenomenon in the United States, peaking in the top ten through much of the 1980s. Generations of Nicoles now fill classrooms, law offices, and board meetings. Lately it has cooled to the low 300s, which only sharpens its grown-up appeal. Two syllables, the second sliding into a soft l, carry the polish of an adult name rather than a trend.