Nikolaidis (Greek: Νικολαΐδης) is a common Greek patronymic surname meaning "son of Nikolaos." It originates primarily from the regions of Asia Minor and Pontus, but is also widespread across Macedonia and Thrace. The name is equivalent to English surnames like Nicholson or Nixon.Etymology and HistoryThe root name Nicholas comes from the Greek Nikolaos, which combines the elements nike (victory) and laos (people), giving the meaning "victory of the people." The name gained immense popularity due to Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop from Anatolia venerated as the patron saint of children, sailors, merchants, Greece, and Russia. The story of Saint Nicholas secretly providing dowries for three poor girls inspired the figure of Santa Claus.The suffix -idis is a common Greek patronymic ending, often found in surnames originating from the former Greek communities in Asia Minor. Other variations of the surname include Nicolaidis (common in the diaspora), Nicolaides, and Nikolaides. The feminine form is Nikolaidou (in formal Greek) or Nikolaidi (less formal).Notable BearersAndrej Nikolaidis (born 1974), Bosnian novelist and criticApostolos Nikolaidis (1896–1980), Greek footballer and track athleteApostolos Nikolaidis (1938–1999), Greek singerDemis Nikolaidis (born 1973), Greek footballerAlexandros Nikolaidis (born 1979), Greek taekwondo athleteAlexandros Nikolaidis (born 2002), Greek basketball playerRelated FormsSimilar patronymic surnames in other languages include Russian Nikolaev (masculine) and Nikolaeva (feminine), Macedonian Nikolov / Nikolova, Serbian Nikolić, and Slovak Mikula. The direct Greek equivalents after Nikolaidis are Nicolaou (masculine) and Nikolaidou (feminine).Meaning: "son of Nikolaos"Origin: Greek, primarily from Asia Minor and PontusType: Patronymic surnameUsage regions: Greece (especially Macedonia, Thrace), Greek diaspora