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Name Lineage

    The first name Lancelot

    A boy’s name meaning “land”.

    Pronounced /ˈlæn.sə.lɒt/ 3 syllables Male

    Meaning and origin

    Lancelot means “land”.

    From Middle English Launcelot, from Old French Lancelot, from Frankish *Lanzo, hypocoristic form of names beginning in *Land-, from Proto-Germanic *landą (“land”), and diminutive Old French endings -el and -ot. Related to Old English Landbeorht (modern English Lambert).

    More names that mean earth.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Lancelot last appeared in the official list in 2020, given to 3 boys. It peaked in 2010, with 4 births (#3,865).

    0510 1996200020052010201520202025
    16
    babies named Lancelot, 1996–2025
    #4,608
    rank in 2020
    2010
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Lancelot with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Lancelot at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 12 boys born in the United States were named Lancelot, the 7,034th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1984, when 18 were.

    01020 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    638
    babies named Lancelot since 1880
    #7,034
    rank in 2025
    1984
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Lancelot in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    蘭斯洛特 /兰斯洛特
    Lánsīluòtè
    Chinese

    Spelled Lancelot in French too.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Lancelot

    Other spellings and forms

    • Launcelot

    Famous people named Lancelot

    8 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Lancelot Hogben
      British zoologist, statistician, science writer (1895–1975)
    • Lancelot Brown
      British landscape architect (1716–1783)
    • Lancelot Andrewes
      English bishop and scholar, 1555–1626
    • Lancelot Royle
      British sprinter (1898–1978)
    • Lancelot Blondeel
      Flemish painter (1498-1561)
    • Lancelot Ware
      British politician (1915-2000)
    • Lancelot Volders
      Flemish painter (1636-1723)
    • Lance Percival
      British actor and comedian (1933-2015)

    Questions

    What does the name Lancelot mean?
    Lancelot means “land”.
    How popular is the name Lancelot?
    In 2020, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Lancelot, ranking 4,608th. Its peak was 2010, with 4 births.
    What are nicknames for Lancelot?
    Common nicknames for Lancelot include Lance.
    Is Lancelot a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 638 US babies named Lancelot since 1880 were boys.
    When was Lancelot most popular?
    1984 in the United States, when 18 babies were named Lancelot, its highest rank at 2,660th.
    How do you pronounce Lancelot?
    Lancelot is /ˈlæn.sə.lɒt/, 3 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Lancelot?
    Launcelot.