I love the name [name_m]Nikolai[/name_m], and I love the nn [name_u]Nico[/name_u]. But I dont like [name_u]Niko[/name_u] nearly as much. Can I have [name_u]Nico[/name_u] be a nn for [name_m]Nikolai[/name_m], or do I have to spell it [name_m]Nicolai[/name_m]?
[name_m]Nicolai[/name_m] is an accepted spelling in Scandinavia. [name_u]Niko[/name_u] isn’t used as a nickname for [name_m]Nikolai[/name_m] in [name_f]Russia[/name_f] (or it’s rare), they use [name_m]Kolya[/name_m] or [name_f]Nika[/name_f]. So I think [name_m]Nicolai[/name_m] nn [name_u]Nico[/name_u] makes the most sense.
I’m assuming that [name_u]Nico[/name_u]/[name_u]Niko[/name_u] would be used often enough that it would need to be written down and spelling would be an issue? In that case, I suppose [name_m]Nicolai[/name_m] nn [name_u]Nico[/name_u] would make a lot more sense and cause less confusion, if you really don’t like [name_u]Niko[/name_u], although I do prefer [name_m]Nikolai[/name_m]. Either way, I absolutely love [name_m]Nikolai[/name_m] (or [name_m]Nicolai[/name_m]) in terms of sound! Brilliant name :)!
I prefer [name_m]Nikolai[/name_m] over [name_m]Nicolai[/name_m] visually, and [name_u]Nico[/name_u] over [name_u]Niko[/name_u] too. But I definitely think you could get [name_u]Nico[/name_u] out of [name_m]Nikolai[/name_m] without any issues.
I agree with the above - [name_m]Nikolai[/name_m] over [name_m]Nicolai[/name_m] but [name_u]Nico[/name_u] over [name_u]Niko[/name_u]. I think you could do [name_m]Nikolai[/name_m] nn [name_u]Nico[/name_u] no problem, but if you’d prefer spelling to be more intuitive then my second choice would be [name_m]Nicolai[/name_m] nn [name_u]Nico[/name_u]. [name_u]Niko[/name_u] just looks off to me.
Either way, great choice! As you can see, I’m a big fan of [name_m]Nikolai[/name_m] 
Thanks guys! I think I’m going to go with [name_m]Nikolai[/name_m] nn [name_u]Nico[/name_u]. Does anyone have any mn suggestions? The only thing i like is [name_m]Nikolai[/name_m] [name_m]Jacob[/name_m], and [name_m]Jacob[/name_m] is too boring for me. I like names that are not unheard of, but not common. And typically not too old fashioned either. Most of my top names are from different European countries. Any ideas?