"lake colony, pool settlement"
Lincoln
Pronunciation: [ l-IHNGK-uhn ]
Presidential strength with a modern edge
Meaning & Origin
The Story of Lincoln
Lincoln derives from the Old English 'Lindum Colonia,' a Roman settlement meaning 'lake colony' or 'pool colony' — Lindum being a Brythonic word for 'lake' and colonia being the Latin term for settlement. The city of Lincoln in England gave rise to the surname Lincoln, most famously carried by Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. In modern times, Lincoln has crossed the gender boundary, following the trend of presidential and presidential-adjacent surnames like Madison, Monroe, and Kennedy being used for girls.
Lincoln for girls began gaining traction in the 2010s alongside similar surname-to-girl's-name crossovers. The trend was fueled by celebrities and the general American fashion of giving girls strong, traditionally masculine names. Lincoln's association with Abraham Lincoln adds gravitas and patriotic appeal.
The name carries enormous symbolic weight in American culture as the surname of President Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president who led the country through the Civil War and issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Using it for a girl subverts traditional naming conventions while honoring American history.
Fun Facts
- Lincoln, England has been inhabited since before Roman times and gave the name to the US president
- Lincoln Center in New York City is one of the world's leading performing arts centers
Lincoln in Other Languages
Famous People Named Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Politician
1809
16th President of the United States who led the country through the Civil War and abolished slavery
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #2,368
- Total SSA Count
- 77
- Cultural Origins
- American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Common Nicknames
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Also a Boy Name
Lincoln is also used as a boy name, ranked #73.
View Lincoln as a boy name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Lincoln
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About the Name Lincoln
Lincoln is a girl name with American origins . The name means "lake colony, pool settlement" in Old English/Latin .
Is Lincoln a boy or girl name? Lincoln is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #2,368 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #73. Lincoln is more commonly used as a boy name.
Lincoln is currently ranked #2,368 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Lincoln has 2 syllables and is pronounced l-IHNGK-uhn, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Lincoln include Linc, Linnie, and Lynn. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.