Lincoln is a popular given name for males in English-speaking countries. Its origin can be traced back to the Middle Ages in England where it was originally an occupational surname given to someone who lived near a patch of land that was covered with flax plants, which were used to make linen cloth. The name is derived from the Old English words "lin" meaning "flax" and "c" meaning "land".
The name Lincoln has several variations including Lindsey and Linkoln among others. It can also be used as a surname.
Historically, the name Lincoln gained prominence in the United States due to Abraham Lincoln, who was the 16th President of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Although Abraham Lincoln's parents gave him the name "Abe," he later adopted his given name as a part of his public persona.
Today, the name Lincoln is still popular among new parents and has been used by several celebrities for their children including actors Matthew McConaughey and Jessica Biel.
The name Lincoln has seen significant fluctuations and growth in popularity over time, with a total of 95565 babies given the name between 1880 and 2023. The first decade (1880-1889) averaged around 14 births per year, with a peak of 26 births in 1895. This trend continued into the early 1900s, hovering around an average of 15 births annually.
However, starting from the 1930s, there was a noticeable decline in popularity, with fewer than 100 Lincoln babies born each year until the 1960s. The name's popularity picked up again in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with around 100-200 births per year.
A significant resurgence occurred in the mid-1990s, with over 150 Lincoln babies born annually from 1993 onwards. This trend continued through the early 2000s, reaching an all-time high of 8195 births in 2017.
Interestingly, despite its recent popularity, Lincoln has not been among the top 10 most popular names for boys since it peaked at #6 in 2013. As of 2021, it ranked at #145 on the Social Security Administration's list of baby names.