Lancelot Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LAN-suh-lot /ˈlænsəˌlɒt/
Origin: French; Arthurian legend
Meaning: French: servant; Arthurian legend: knight of the Round Table
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Lancelot is believed to have originated from the Old French name "Lancelot," which itself is derived from the Latin "Lanceolus," meaning "little lance." The etymological roots can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "lans," which refers to a spear or lance. This name entered the English language through the medieval romances of Arthurian legend, particularly in the 12th century, when the tales of King Arthur and his knights were popularized by writers such as Chrétien de Troyes.
The character of Sir Lancelot became one of the most celebrated knights of the Round Table, known for his chivalric deeds and tragic love for Queen Guinevere. Lancelot's prominence in literature was solidified through various adaptations and retellings of Arthurian legends, including Sir Thomas Malory's "Le Morte d'Arthur" in the 15th century.
This work played a significant role in shaping the modern perception of the Arthurian saga and solidified Lancelot's status as a quintessential knight. The character's narrative arc often explores themes of honor, loyalty, and the complexities of love, particularly in his relationship with Guinevere, which has resonated through centuries of storytelling.
Culturally, Lancelot embodies the ideals of chivalry and courtly love, making him a symbol of the medieval knightly ethos. His character has been interpreted in various forms of art, literature, and performance, reflecting the enduring fascination with the Arthurian legends.
The name has also inspired various diminutive forms, such as "Lance," which have been used in different contexts. Overall, Lancelot's legacy is deeply intertwined with the cultural and literary history of the Middle Ages, representing both the heroic and tragic elements of knightly life.
Fictional characters named Lancelot
The following list of fictional characters named Lancelot is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
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Lancelot is a fictional character from the Arthurian legend and various adaptations. He is one of the Knights of the Round Table and is famously known for his affair with Queen Guinevere.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Lancelot, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Lancelot. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Lancelot was first seen in the United States in 1908.
Lancelot has ranked as high as #6423 nationally, which occurred in 1984, and has been most popular in California, and New York.
In the past 5 years the name Lancelot has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Lancelot is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Lancelot was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Lancelot.
| Year | Total Births | Boy |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | 12 |
| 2024 | 8 | 8 |
| 2023 | 9 | 9 |
| 2022 | 6 | 6 |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 |
| 2019 | 6 | 6 |
| 2018 | 6 | 6 |
| 2017 | 6 | 6 |
| 2016 | 10 | 10 |
| 2015 | 11 | 11 |
| 2014 | 5 | 5 |
| 2013 | 7 | 7 |
| 2012 | 9 | 9 |
| 2011 | 9 | 9 |
| 2010 | 14 | 14 |
| 2009 | 8 | 8 |
| 2008 | 10 | 10 |
| 2007 | 11 | 11 |
| 2006 | 16 | 16 |
| 2005 | 12 | 12 |
| 2004 | 14 | 14 |
| 2003 | 11 | 11 |
| 2002 | 11 | 11 |
| 2001 | 11 | 11 |
| 2000 | 11 | 11 |
| 1999 | 13 | 13 |
| 1998 | 11 | 11 |
| 1997 | 9 | 9 |
| 1996 | 11 | 11 |
| 1995 | 16 | 16 |
| 1994 | 7 | 7 |
| 1993 | 11 | 11 |
| 1992 | 16 | 16 |
| 1991 | 8 | 8 |
| 1990 | 12 | 12 |
| 1989 | 13 | 13 |
| 1988 | 10 | 10 |
| 1987 | 12 | 12 |
| 1986 | 5 | 5 |
| 1985 | 9 | 9 |
| 1984 | 18 | 18 |
| 1983 | 11 | 11 |
| 1982 | 12 | 12 |
| 1981 | 12 | 12 |
| 1980 | 8 | 8 |
| 1977 | 5 | 5 |
| 1976 | 6 | 6 |
| 1975 | 9 | 9 |
| 1974 | 7 | 7 |
| 1973 | 6 | 6 |
| 1972 | 12 | 12 |
| 1971 | 7 | 7 |
| 1968 | 7 | 7 |
| 1967 | 6 | 6 |
| 1965 | 8 | 8 |
| 1964 | 6 | 6 |
| 1963 | 5 | 5 |
| 1961 | 5 | 5 |
| 1958 | 5 | 5 |
| 1957 | 6 | 6 |
| 1955 | 6 | 6 |
| 1954 | 6 | 6 |
| 1949 | 5 | 5 |
| 1947 | 6 | 6 |
| 1942 | 5 | 5 |
| 1931 | 6 | 6 |
| 1924 | 5 | 5 |
| 1921 | 5 | 5 |
| 1920 | 6 | 6 |
| 1919 | 5 | 5 |
| 1916 | 6 | 6 |
| 1915 | 5 | 5 |
| 1908 | 5 | 5 |
Top States for Lancelot (2006)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 6 |