Meaning and history
Nikon is a Greek and Russian masculine name from Ancient Greek nikōn, meaning “victorious” or “one who wins,” derived from nikē, “victory.” It was borne by several early Christian saints. Patriarch Nikon of Moscow was a major seventeenth-century church reformer whose policies contributed to the schism of the Russian Old Believers. The personal name predates and is etymologically separate from Nikon, the Japanese camera company. Reliable prominent modern given-name bearers are comparatively uncommon.