Nickel is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Arno Nickel (born 1952), German correspondence chess Grandmaster
Bernd Nickel (born 1949), German former footballer
Eckhart Nickel (born 1966), German author and journalist
Elbie Nickel (1922–2007), American National Football League tight end
Goschwin Nickel (1582–1644), Jesuit priest and the 10th Superior-General of the Society of Jesus
Greg Nickels (born 1955), two-time mayor of Seattle
Harald Nickel (born 1953), German former footballer
Herman W. Nickel (born 1928), United States Ambassador to South Africa during the Reagan administration
Jens Nickel, German ten-pin bowler
Mike Nickel (born 1965), Canadian politician
Gil Nickel (1939–2003), American vintner
Richard Nickel (1928–1972), American photographer and historian
Uta Nickel (born 1941), German politician
Walter R. Nickel (1907–1989), American dermatologist
