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The short answer
Lincoln is a masculine English name from a surname that itself comes from the English city of Lincoln, called Lindum Colonia by the Romans, from the Celtic root lindos ("lake") and Latin colonia ("colony"). Behind the Name notes it is usually given today in honour of Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), the US president during the Civil War. It is pronounced LING-kən. In the United States it ranked #69 for boys in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Lincoln as "from the English surname Lincoln, which was originally from the name of an English city, called Lindum Colonia by the Romans, derived from the Celtic root lindos 'lake' and Latin colonia 'colony'". The entry adds that as a given name it "is usually given in honour of Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), president of the United States during the American Civil War".
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Celtic | lindos | lake |
| Latin | colonia | colony |
Competing or overlapping origins
- As a modern given name, Behind the Name says Lincoln is usually chosen in honour of President Abraham Lincoln rather than for the city/surname etymology directly.
Popularity
Lincoln ranked #69 for boys in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #69 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Link
Variants: None documented.
Related names: None documented.
What the name feels like
Lincoln pairs a strong historical/presidential association with a fashionable -coln/-con sound, giving it a distinguished feel without being overly formal, and it has become one of the more popular surname names for boys.
Style tags: surname name, presidential association, two syllables
Editorial interpretation: This style read is editorial judgment, not linguistic fact.
If you like this name
Names with a similar English surname/place-name shape or sound to Lincoln.
Similar by sound
Similar by style
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lincoln mean?
Lincoln comes from the English city of the same name, called Lindum Colonia by the Romans, from a Celtic root lindos meaning "lake" and Latin colonia meaning "colony".
Is Lincoln named after Abraham Lincoln?
Usually, yes. Behind the Name says the given name today is generally chosen in honour of President Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) rather than directly for its city-name etymology.
Is Lincoln a popular name?
Yes. Lincoln ranked #69 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Lincoln — supports etymology, pronunciation, history.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
