Lincoln Name Meaning: Origin, Popularity & Nicknames

What Does Lincoln Mean?

The name Lincoln is a millennium-old morphing of the phrase “lake colony.” It stems from the Brythonic word “Lynn,” meaning a body of water like a lake or a pool. The “coln” in Lincoln derives from the Latin word Colonia, representing colony.

Lincoln is almost always a surname, though you can certainly use it as a first or middle name instead.

What Is the Origin of the Name Lincoln?

Lincoln is an Old English name that originates in Southern Britain. It is a mix of Germanic and Latin. The name comes from the name of the town of Lincoln, England.

This city emerged from a Roman Iron Age hamlet into a modern metropolitan center. When the Romans first settled it, they called it Lindum Colonia. Eventually, people began to pronounce it Lincoln ⁽¹⁾.

How Popular Is the Name Lincoln?

Lincoln began rising in popularity after the 1500s. Many English colonists arrived in the Americas and brought their surnames with them.

During the 1800s, the name would explode in popularity thanks to a particular president. Ever since the end of the Civil War in the 1860s, the name has been trendy.

Lincoln is a very popular name, consistently ranking in the 40s. As of 2021, Lincoln was the 45th most common name in the United States ⁽²⁾.

How Do I Pronounce Lincoln?

The name Lincoln is relatively easy to pronounce. You pronounce Lincoln as “Link-un” in the United States. In Britain, you would pronounce the name Lincoln as the words “link” and “on” put together.

Is Lincoln a Boy or Girl Name?

Lincoln is a traditionally masculine name given to boys. It is masculine as both a first name and last name. However, there are some girls with the first name Lincoln. It can rarely function as a unisex name, similar to Reagan, another former president’s name.

Variations of Lincoln

There are not many variations of the name Lincoln. English speakers spell and pronounce Lincoln almost the same all over the world. Some minor variations include the following:

• Link/Linc: Short for Lincoln.
• Linken: Different root and origin completely.
• Linkin: Similar to the name above.
• Linkon: Spelling variation of Lincoln.
• Lincon: Same as above.

Nicknames for Lincoln

There are plenty of fun and creative nicknames you can use in place of Lincoln. These are short, sweet, and to the point. Nicknames for Lincoln include:

• Abe
• Abey
• Honest Abe
• Conny
• Connie
• Lee
• Li
• Linc
• Lincoln Log
• Link
• Linky

Similar Names to Lincoln

Lincoln is a unique name, but there are some alternatives you might also like, such as the following names:

• Landon
• Lindon
• Lindlee
• Lyndon
• Lindley
• Lindsey
• Lynley
• Liddy
• Liddie
• Little

Middle Names for Lincoln

Lincoln is a great name. What makes it so great is that you can match it with a lot of different nicknames, like the following:

• Abraham
• Andrew
• Baxter
• Benjamin
• Carter
• George
• Jacob
• Jefferson
• Johnny
• John
• Lucas
• Luke
• Thomas
• Tommy
• William

Sibling Names for Lincoln

Some of the best sibling names for Lincoln include the following.

For a brother:

• Arthur
• Grant
• Lee
• Brag
• Beauregard
• Buchanan
• Macarthur
• McClellan
• Morgan
• Patton
• Sherman
• Ullyses

For a sister:

• Theodora
• Bella
• Alyson
• Lily
• Abbie
• Maria
• Sarah

Famous People Named Lincoln

This one should not be that much of a head-scratcher. Everybody alive has heard of president Abraham Lincoln and his historical legacy. Some famous Lincolns throughout history include the following:

• Abbey Lincoln: Abbey Lincoln was an American Jazz musician and singer. She was a civil rights activist who defended her freedoms and civil liberties during the 1960s and in the era of segregation.
• Abraham Lincoln: Abraham Lincoln was a former president who defeated the South during the Civil War and ended slavery. He is the most famous American named Lincoln and one of the most famous presidents. Abraham’s face is on every penny.
• Benjamin Lincoln: Benjamin Lincoln was a major general during the Revolutionary War. Fighting for the Americans, he has no relation to President Abraham Lincoln. He died in 1710.
• Samuel Lincoln: Samuel Lincoln was the immigrant ancestor of President Abraham Lincoln. He arrived in the United States during the British colonial days in the 1600s. He died in 1690.
• Harry James Lincoln: Harry James Lincoln was an American composer. He was famous during the early 1900s. Harry J Lincoln composed numerous works, such as the “Bees Wax Rag.”

Lincoln in Popular Culture

There have been many famous characters with the name Lincoln in popular culture. There are even television shows, movies, plays, songs, books, stories, and video games that reference the name. Some examples include the following:

• Abigail Lincoln: Character on Codename: Kids Next Door. This is an animated children’s tv show.
• Lincoln Campbell: Lincoln Campbell is a Marvel superhero character. He appears in various pieces of Marvel media, including Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Lincoln Loud: Character on The Loud House. He is the male protagonist.
• Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is a fictional movie loosely based on Abraham Lincoln but almost entirely fantasy.
• Lincoln: A 2012 historical drama based on the Civil War, slavery, and Abraham Lincoln’s role in ending the conflict.
• Lincoln: A leading character on the TV series “The 100.”

Lincoln FAQs

There are many frequently asked questions about the name Lincoln, such as the following.