Lincoln in Chinese
Lincoln in Chinese is 林肯 (Lín Kěn).
- Origin
- English
- Meaning
- lake settlement
Etymologically, Lincoln is English and is commonly glossed as "lake settlement". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 2010s.
3 ways to write Lincoln
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
林肯
Lín Kěn
The standard transliteration of Lincoln: 林 (lín, "forest, woods"), 肯 (kěn, "willing"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
The mapping is one character per syllable: 林 (lín) carries "lin", 肯 (kěn) carries "coln". The tone contour is 2-3 (rising, dipping).
Character breakdown
16 strokes total (simplified)- 林
lín
Tone 2 · 8 strokes (simplified)
forest, woods
- 肯
kěn
Tone 3 · 8 strokes (simplified)
willing
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
清源
Qīng Yuán
Inspired by "lake settlement": 清 (qīng, "clear, pure") + 源 (yuán, "source, origin"), expressing water and the sea.
Why these characters?
The idea of "lake" behind Lincoln is rendered by 清, "clear, pure"; 源, "source, origin", completes it.
Character breakdown
24 strokes total (simplified)- 清
qīng
Tone 1 · 11 strokes (simplified)
clear, pure
- 源
yuán
Tone 2 · 13 strokes (simplified)
source, origin
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
礼浩
Lǐ Hào
礼 (lǐ, "courtesy, propriety") + 浩 (hào, "vast, grand"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
礼 (lǐ) sounds close to the opening "lin" of Lincoln (compare 林 lín) but means "courtesy, propriety"; 浩 adds "vast, grand".
Character breakdown
16 strokes total (simplified)- 礼
lǐ
Tone 3 · 6 strokes (simplified)
courtesy, propriety
- 浩
hào
Tone 4 · 10 strokes (simplified)
vast, grand
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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Recent US usage of Lincoln
In the Social Security Administration’s 2020–2025 snapshot, Lincoln ranked 53 among names recorded for boys, with 33,535 registrations in that group across the period. These are US birth-name records, rather than search counts or a ranking of Chinese names. The period covers part of a decade; it is not a final ranking for the whole 2020s.
Compare the dated figures in the SSA’s official 2020s name table. This snapshot was checked on 2026-10-15; any historical figures on this page describe their own stated period.
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 56,393 boys named Lincoln since 1880, with the high point in 2017 (8,146 births) and the busiest decade being the 2010s. Between 1990 and 2017 it climbed, from #855 to #41 among boys.
- Peak year
- 2017
- Peak decade
- 2010s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 56,393
More About Lincoln in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Lincoln offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Lincoln, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in Roman in Chinese, Mathew in Chinese, and Louis in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Carl in Chinese, Danny in Chinese, and Jimmy in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Lincoln, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Lincoln to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write Lincoln in Chinese?
林肯 (Lín Kěn), identical in simplified and traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Does Lincoln change in traditional Chinese?
No. 林肯 uses only characters that are the same in both scripts, so one design works everywhere.
How popular is the name Lincoln?
US Social Security records show 56,393 boys named Lincoln since 1880, with the high point in 2017 (8,146 births) and the busiest decade being the 2010s. Between 1990 and 2017 it climbed, from #855 to #41 among boys.