Lancelot

The masculine first name Lancelot has its roots in English and is a modified form of Lance, enhanced by the French endings '-el' and '-ot.' Translated, the name means 'the land' or 'the home.'

What does the name Lancelot mean?

Lancelot is an English masculine name that has developed as a diminutive of Lance, an English variant of the Germanic name Lanzo. Its meaning directly refers to 'the land' or 'the home,' with roots found in the Old High German word lant. In the Middle Ages, the name was mistakenly associated with the Old French word lance, meaning 'the spear.' In this context, the name can be interpreted as 'the little lance' or 'the little lancer.' The name became famous through the eponymous knight from the Arthurian legend, who is considered part of King Arthur's Round Table and is also known as the lover of Queen Guinevere. Alternative forms include Lanz, Lanzelot, and Lanti, while Lanny is often used as a diminutive. Additionally, Lancelot also exists as a surname.

Where does the name Lancelot come from?

The name Lancelot has Old High German origins and means 'the land.' The etymology derives from the Old High German term lant, which means 'the land' or 'the home.' The languages from which the name originates are Old English and English.

How do you pronounce Lancelot?

The pronunciation of Lancelot is three to four syllables and is rendered as 'Lan-ce-lot' [ˈlantsəlɔt] or in the French style [lɑ̃səˈlo]. The name has a melodic sound with open vowels and a soft syllable structure. The dark O at the end adds depth and resonance. Lancelot sounds mythical and noble, radiates romance, and possesses a chivalrous appeal.

When is the name day of Lancelot?

The name day for Lancelot is celebrated on February 9 and September 17.

Popularity

In Germany, Lancelot is a rather rare first name and has not made a mark in the German first name charts so far. Its best ranking was in 1999 in France at 494th place. In the last ten years, the name has been given about 260 times there, placing it at 919th in the ten-year statistics. From 1930 to 2024, it ranks 860th in France.

Nicknames & pet names

Lance / Lanci / Lanny

Famous people

• Cecil Lancelot Stewart Cross (New Zealand basketball player)
• Henry Lancelot Aubrey-Fletcher (English cricketer)
• Lancelot Andrewes (English theologian)
• Lancelot Blackburne (British bishop)
• Lancelot Blondeel (painter)
• Lancelot Bosanquet (mathematician from England)
• Lancelot de Carle (French bishop)
• Lancelot Dowbiggin (architect from England)
• Lancelot Driffield (English cricketer)
• Lancelot Fuhry (conductor from Germany)
• Lancelot Hogben (geneticist from England)
• Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen (Nigerian film producer)
• Lancelot Robinson (cricketer from Great Britain)
• Lancelot Royle (British sprinter)
• Lancelot Slocock (Italian rugby player)
• Lancelot Speed (British illustrator)
• Lancelot Stafford (English athlete)
• Lancelot Stephen Bosanquet (British mathematician)
• Lancelot Voisin la Popeliniere (French writer)
• Lancelot William McCaskill (writer from New Zealand)