Nicholas

Nicholas comes from the Greek name ‘Nikolaos’, derived from the words for ‘victory’ and ‘people’. St Nicholas was a 4th-century bishop of Myra in Lycia. He became the patron saint of both Greece and Russia, as well as of children, merchants, pawnbrokers and sailors. His feast day is 6th December, and one of his roles is said to involve the bringing of gifts to children at Christmas (as Father Christmas, or Santa Claus – from the Dutch ‘Sinterklaas’. Famous bearers of this name include Nicholas Cage (actor) and numerous Popes.