Lincoln
Boy name · #69 in 2025 · Uniqueness 50/100
In 2025, 4,703 baby boys were named Lincoln, placing it at #69 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #66, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 383 boys born in 2025 was named Lincoln.
The 145-year story
Lincoln first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 10 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2017, when 8,202 boys were named Lincoln — good for #41 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Lincoln per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Lincoln against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Lincoln in class?
Lincoln scores 50 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Lincoln is most common
Geography matters for names, and Lincoln is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Lincolns were OH (343), TX (330), CA (231), MI (231), PA (230). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Lincoln
Statistically, parents drawn to Lincoln tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Grayson, Greyson, Easton, Jameson, and Leonardo.
GraysonGreysonEastonJamesonLeonardoNolanDeclanWeston
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Lincoln | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,703 | #69 |
| 2024 | 4,580 | #73 |
| 2023 | 4,866 | #64 |
| 2022 | 5,625 | #54 |
| 2021 | 6,700 | #45 |
| 2020 | 7,061 | #40 |
| 2019 | 7,473 | #41 |
| 2018 | 7,408 | #41 |
| 2017 | 8,202 | #41 |
| 2016 | 7,129 | #51 |
| 2015 | 6,001 | #66 |
| 2014 | 4,824 | #87 |
| 2013 | 4,039 | #95 |
| 2012 | 2,912 | #132 |
| 2011 | 2,158 | #179 |
| 2010 | 1,871 | #199 |
| 2009 | 2,012 | #189 |
| 2008 | 1,818 | #211 |
| 2007 | 1,655 | #224 |
| 2006 | 1,109 | #301 |
| 2005 | 502 | #495 |
| 2004 | 413 | #555 |
| 2003 | 410 | #548 |
| 2002 | 329 | #610 |
| 2001 | 309 | #616 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Lincoln a popular boy name?
Lincoln ranked #69 among boys in 2025 with 4,703 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #66.
When was the name Lincoln most popular?
Lincoln peaked in 2017, when 8,202 American boys received the name (ranked #41 that year). Since 2017 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Lincoln?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 383 newborn American boys was named Lincoln. It scores 50/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.