Lincoln
Girl name · #2401 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Lincoln? In official American birth records, Lincoln has been tracked continuously since 1985, giving it 40 years of documented American history.
Lincoln is currently the #2401 girl name in the United States — 75 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1454, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 24,000 girls born in 2025 was named Lincoln.
Babies named Lincoln per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 40-year story
Lincoln first appears in the Social Security records in 1985, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2017, when 241 girls were named Lincoln — good for #1065 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Lincoln against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Lincoln in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Lincoln is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Lincoln will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Lincoln is most common
State-level data for Lincoln is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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 Londynn, Laikyn, Harlynn, Annistyn, and Adilynn.
LondynnLaikynHarlynnAnnistynAdilynnLujainHarlynAddalyn
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Lincoln | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 75 | #2387 |
| 2024 | 77 | #2362 |
| 2023 | 89 | #2142 |
| 2022 | 126 | #1670 |
| 2021 | 148 | #1450 |
| 2020 | 183 | #1241 |
| 2019 | 185 | #1255 |
| 2018 | 165 | #1367 |
| 2017 | 241 | #1065 |
| 2016 | 164 | #1412 |
| 2015 | 158 | #1454 |
| 2014 | 127 | #1665 |
| 2013 | 61 | #2804 |
| 2012 | 34 | #4296 |
| 2011 | 24 | #5543 |
| 2010 | 15 | #7880 |
| 2009 | 21 | #6317 |
| 2008 | 22 | #6130 |
| 2007 | 13 | #9007 |
| 2006 | 9 | #11417 |
| 2005 | 10 | #10128 |
| 2004 | 10 | #9892 |
| 2003 | 6 | #13844 |
| 2002 | 5 | #15432 |
| 2001 | 7 | #12056 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Lincoln?
In official American birth records, the name Lincoln first appeared in 1985 (over 40 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 40 years.
Is Lincoln a popular girl name?
Lincoln ranked #2401 among girls in 2025 with 75 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1454.
When was the name Lincoln most popular?
Lincoln peaked in 2017, when 241 American girls received the name (ranked #1065 that year). Since 2017 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Lincoln?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 24,000 newborn American girls was named Lincoln. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.