Russian nicknames for Nikolai/Nicholas

[seizansha.livejournal.com]

this is all for fiction. He's 36 and half Russian only because both parents are half Russian. i've been looking for a nn that sticks with the ethnicity. i found some unusual ones under 'Nikolai' at babynamespedia, like Nil, but i'm looking for the most common and the proper spelling.(i keep calling him Nicky in my head.)

Comments

[wolf-shadow.livejournal.com]

Standard nickname for Nikolai is Kolya (Koll-yah or Koili-yah). Same source as Cole/Colin from Nicholas :)

Коля

(Source: I'm a Russian speaker)

Not sticking a link in since I got spam trapped twice with it :P

[seizansha.livejournal.com]

thanks!

[pirahan.livejournal.com]

Kolya is the most common Russian nick name for nick.

[rekkless.livejournal.com]

I agree with Kolya, but maybe even Nico?