Nikolaou or Nicolaou (Greek: Νικολάου) is a surname. It is of Greek origin and a very common Greek Cypriot surname. Nicolaou translates to the "Victor of the People". "Niko" or "Nico" is derived from the Greek word "νίκη" for "victor" and "laou" is derived from the Greek word "λαός" which means "the people or the people of the country". Many Greek Cypriot surnames have an "ou" ending in them compared to main land Greece where Nicolaou may be spelt as "Nicolaos". There are two other variations of the surname Nicolaou which were given the prefix "hadji" (in greek "Χατζη") and the prefix Papa (in greek "παπάς") which was added as a prefix to the surname. Hadjinicolaou or Hatzinikolaou had the prefix "hadji" given to those who physically walked on foot and journeyed to the Holy land and were baptized in the River Jordan and means that at some point someone in the family many years ago was baptized in the River Jordan. Papanicolaou or Papanikolaou has the prefix "papa" given to those whose father had become a priest for the word "παπάς" in greek translates to priest, which means at some point in this person's lineage they have someone who was anointed to a priest.
- Charis Nicolaou (born 1974), Cypriot footballer
- Diamantis Nikolaou (1790–1856), klepht
- Dimitris Nikolaou (born 1989), Greek footballer
- George Nicolaou (born 1945), Cypriot judge
- Giorgos Nicolaou (born 1982), Cypriot footballer
- Ionas Nicolaou (born 1963), Cypriot politician
- Jannis Nikolaou (born 1993), German–Greek footballer
- K. C. Nicolaou, Cypriot-American chemist
- Konstantia Nikolaou (born 1984), Cypriot shooter
- Lakis Nikolaou (born 1949), Greek footballer
- Marios Nicolaou (footballer, born 1981), Cypriot footballer
- Marios Nicolaou (footballer, born 1983), Cypriot footballer
- Nikolas Nicolaou (born 1979), Cypriot footballer
- Nikos Nikolaou (1909–1986), Greek artist
- Nikos Nikolaou (rower) (1925–?), Greek rower
- Nikos Nicolaou (disambiguation), several people
- Panicos Nicolaou, Cypriot banker
- Ted Nicolaou, American film director, screenwriter and producer