Lancelot

At a Glance

Meaning

A diminutive built on the Germanic element 'land' (via the Frankish short form Lanzo)

Origin

Old French (from Frankish/Germanic)

Gender

Primarily used for boys

Pronunciation

LAN-suh-lotListen

Lancelot is a diminutive built on the Germanic element 'land,' reaching English through the Frankish short form Lanzo and Old French. It's often said to come from 'lance,' the knight's weapon, but that link isn't accurate: the name traces to Lanzo, not to a spear. It's pronounced LAN-suh-lot.

Meaning & Origin of Lancelot

Meaning: A diminutive built on the Germanic element 'land' (via the Frankish short form Lanzo).

Origin: Old French (from Frankish/Germanic).

A common claim: Often said to derive from 'lance' (the weapon), evoking a knight's spear. Actually: Same false link as with the name Lance — it actually traces to a Frankish short form of names built on the Germanic element 'land,' not the weapon.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Lancelot

Popularity of Lancelot

Lancelot is rare in U.S. Social Security data: it ranked #10452 in 2024, with just 7 babies given the name. Its peak came back in 1908, when it reached #1507 with a count of 5.

Names Like Lancelot

These names have followed a similar path to Lancelot in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Coletta
• Clementina
• Celestial
• Cecillia
• Mathews
• Feliciana

FAQ

What does the name Lancelot mean?

A diminutive built on the Germanic element ‘land’ (via the Frankish short form Lanzo). (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Lancelot?

Lancelot is pronounced LAN-suh-lot (IPA: /ˈlɑːn.sə.lɒt/).

Is Lancelot a popular name right now?

Lancelot peaked at #1507 in 1908 and is ranked #10452 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1908–2024.)

Make Lancelot Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Lancelot, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.