Namewise

Carter vs Lincoln

Carter and Lincolncompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.

Head to head

Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 2023, Carter was ranked #30 and Lincoln #84 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Carter was ranked #72 and Lincoln #478 among boys in Scotland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2024, Carter was ranked #76 and Lincoln #95 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Carter was ranked #97 and Lincoln #302 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Carter was ranked #114 and Lincoln #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Carter was ranked #317 and Lincoln #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Carter and Lincoln over time

Carter and Lincoln appear together in 5 published lists, across 85 years of shared records. Carter held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Lincoln in 1.

The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Lincoln reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Carter in 2. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.

Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.

How this pair is related

The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 2024, Carter moved ahead of Lincoln in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #79 and #76 the year before became #76 and #95.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Carter and Lincoln changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #97 and #302.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Carter and Lincoln were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #97 and #302.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Carter #60 in 2018, Lincoln #106 in 2017.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 19962025

    Carter held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Lincoln in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Carter #60 in 2018, Lincoln #106 in 2017.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Carter #97, Lincoln #302.

  • New Zealand · Boys17 shared years, 20072023

    Carter held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Lincoln in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Carter #21 in 2015, Lincoln #33 in 2021.

    The order changed in 2009: Carter moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #75 and #69; by 2009 that had become #68 and #70.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Carter #30, Lincoln #84.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 20062024

    Carter held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Lincoln in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Carter #53 in 2013, Lincoln #202 in 2017.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Carter #114, Lincoln #339.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 20102025

    Carter held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Lincoln in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Carter #113 in 2019, Lincoln #305 in 2017.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Carter #317, Lincoln #432.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys10 shared years, 20152024

    Carter held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Lincoln in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Carter #60 in 2018, Lincoln #50 in 2017.

    The order changed in 2024: Carter moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #79 and #76; by 2024 that had become #76 and #95.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Carter #76, Lincoln #95.

Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Carter, Lincoln
FieldCarterLincoln
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
OriginNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
PronunciationNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNew South Wales, Australia · Boys #70 (2025)England and Wales · Boys #302 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recordedNot yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Carter and Lincoln both have 2 syllables.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Carter

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1996

    First recorded at #755 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    England and Wales · Boys

  2. Highest recorded2006–2023

    Highest recorded position: #21 among boys in New Zealand, in 2015 (recorded 2006–2023).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Lincoln

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1996

    First recorded at #1168 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    England and Wales · Boys

  2. Highest recorded2007–2023

    Highest recorded position: #33 among boys in New Zealand, in 2021 (recorded 2007–2023).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #302 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys