Lincoln
Lincoln is a boys' name of English origin meaning “lake colony or settlement by the pool.” It ranked #69 in the United States in 2025. Derived from the English city Lincoln, from Latin 'Lindum Colonia' meaning lake colony.
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how do you pronounce Lincoln?
LINK-un
where does the name Lincoln come from?
From the English city, whose name fuses the Celtic lindo, meaning pool, with the Latin colonia, a settlement of retired legionaries. Lincoln is therefore a rare place name that visibly records both the Britons who named the pool and the Romans who built beside it.
The name surged in American popularity as a tribute to President Abraham Lincoln, who remains an enduring symbol of integrity.
how popular is this name?
Lincoln has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 145 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 1. It peaked at #40 in 2020, and ranked #69 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #69 |
| 2024 | #73 |
| 2023 | #64 |
| 2022 | #54 |
| 2021 | #45 |
| 2020 | #40 |
| 2019 | #41 |
| 2018 | #41 |
| 2017 | #41 |
| 2016 | #51 |
| 2010 | #199 |
| 2000 | #710 |
| 1990 | #855 |
| 1980 | #911 |
| 1970 | #685 |
| 1960 | #825 |
| 1950 | #736 |
| 1940 | #729 |
| 1930 | #672 |
| 1920 | #523 |
| 1910 | #456 |
| 1900 | #534 |
| 1890 | #533 |
| 1880 | #600 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Lincoln fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln is effectively the whole modern history of the name — it was almost unused as a given name before him and has been steadily used since. Its most recent rise is sharper still, entering the American top forty in the 2010s, part of a broader taste for presidential surnames alongside Jackson and Kennedy.
who are famous people named Lincoln?
- Abraham Lincoln (16th U.S. President)
- Lincoln Center (arts complex)
what are the nicknames and variants of Lincoln?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Lincoln?
what names go well with Lincoln?
Sibling names that share Lincoln's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Lincoln
What does the name Lincoln mean?
Lincoln means “lake colony or settlement by the pool”.
What is the origin of the name Lincoln?
Lincoln comes from the English naming tradition. Related forms include Lincon and Linkin.
How popular is the name Lincoln?
Lincoln ranked #69 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2020, at #40, and it has spent 145 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Lincoln a boy or girl name?
Lincoln is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Lincoln?
Lincoln is pronounced LINK-un, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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