Lincoln Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Lincoln is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Lincoln?
Lincoln is spelled L-I-N-C-O-L-N. The name has 7 letters.
Lincoln at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Lincoln may derive from Old English elements meaning “lake” and “settlement” or “colony.”
- Origin
- Lincoln is commonly associated with a place name derived from an ancient settlement in what is now Lincolnshire, England.
- Pronunciation
- LIN-kun · 2 syllables
Lincoln Popularity in 2025
Rank#2,387
Recorded Births75
Rank#69
Recorded Births4,703
- Girls usage fell 25 places to #2,387 and recorded 2 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 4 places to #69 and recorded 123 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Lincoln Mean?
Lincoln may derive from Old English elements meaning “lake” and “settlement” or “colony.”
Origin: Lincoln is commonly associated with a place name derived from an ancient settlement in what is now Lincolnshire, England.
How Do You Pronounce Lincoln?
PronunciationLIN-kun
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Lincoln?
- History
- The name Lincoln has been historically used as a surname and a place name; it became more widely adopted as a given name in the United States during the 19th century, partly due to associations with President Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 75 | #2,387 |
| 2025 | Boys | 4,703 | #69 |
| 2024 | Girls | 77 | #2,362 |
| 2024 | Boys | 4,580 | #73 |
| 2023 | Girls | 89 | #2,142 |
| 2023 | Boys | 4,866 | #64 |
| 2022 | Girls | 126 | #1,670 |
| 2022 | Boys | 5,625 | #54 |
| 2021 | Girls | 148 | #1,450 |
| 2021 | Boys | 6,700 | #45 |
| 2020 | Girls | 183 | #1,241 |
| 2020 | Boys | 7,061 | #40 |
| 2019 | Girls | 185 | #1,255 |
| 2019 | Boys | 7,473 | #41 |
| 2018 | Girls | 165 | #1,367 |
| 2018 | Boys | 7,408 | #41 |
| 2017 | Girls | 241 | #1,065 |
| 2017 | Boys | 8,202 | #41 |
| 2016 | Girls | 164 | #1,412 |
| 2016 | Boys | 7,129 | #51 |
| 2015 | Girls | 158 | #1,454 |
| 2015 | Boys | 6,001 | #66 |
| 2014 | Girls | 127 | #1,665 |
| 2014 | Boys | 4,824 | #87 |
When Was Lincoln Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2017 · Boys
8,202 recorded births
National rank #41
2019 · Boys
7,473 recorded births
National rank #41
2018 · Boys
7,408 recorded births
National rank #41
2016 · Boys
7,129 recorded births
National rank #51
Where Lincoln Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| OH | #12 | 343 |
| NH | #14 | 48 |
| WY | #16 | 14 |
| MI | #17 | 231 |
| ME | #17 | 36 |
| WI | #21 | 135 |
| IN | #25 | 171 |
| KY | #25 | 118 |