What Does the Name Lincoln Mean?
Lincoln is a boy's name of Old English origin meaning “lake colony.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Lincoln |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Old English |
| Meaning | lake colony |
| Variants | Linc, Lincon |
| Popularity | Rose sharply into the US top 40 boys' names in the 2010s-2020s. |
The meaning and origin of Lincoln
The name Lincoln means “lake colony” and has Old English origins. An English place name and surname for the city of Lincoln, from Latin colonia combined with a Brittonic element meaning lake or pool. Popularized as a given name in honor of US President Abraham Lincoln.
Variants and related names
Lincoln is related to several other names you may recognize: Linc, Lincon. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Lincoln?
Rose sharply into the US top 40 boys' names in the 2010s-2020s.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lincoln mean?+
The name Lincoln means “lake colony” and is of Old English origin.
What is the origin of the name Lincoln?+
Lincoln originates from Old English.
Is Lincoln a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Lincoln has trended in the US over time.
Lincoln by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press