Lance
Lance: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /lษหns/ ยท /lรฆns/
Meaning and origin of Lance
- A male given name from the Germanic languages; by folk etymology associated with a lance.
- A diminutive of the male given name Lancelot.
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
Etymology
The surname is derived from a medieval given name Lanzo, short form of names beginning with the Germanic element *land; see land. Doublet of Lanzo.
How popular is Lance?
Since 1880, 345 girls and 105,839 boys in the U.S. have been named Lance (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #3604 in 1979. Its highest rank for boys was #76 in 1970. In 2025 it ranked #862 for boys, with 279 babies given the name.
Names similar to Lance
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Germanic boy names
Sibling name ideas for Lance
Sister and brother names that share Lance's Germanic roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Lance FAQ
What does the name Lance mean?
A male given name from the Germanic languages; by folk etymology associated with a lance. A diminutive of the male given name Lancelot. A male given name transferred from the surname. The surname is derived from a medieval given name Lanzo, short form of names beginning with the Germanic element *land; see land. Doublet of Lanzo.
What is the origin of the name Lance?
Lance is listed as a name of Germanic origin.
How popular is the name Lance?
Since 1880, 345 girls and 105,839 boys in the U.S. have been named Lance (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #3604 in 1979. Its highest rank for boys was #76 in 1970. In 2025 it ranked #862 for boys, with 279 babies given the name.
Is Lance a boy or girl name?
Lance is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 345 girls and 105,839 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880โ2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.