The nameLou

Lou is a tiny name with a big presence. It works for boys and girls alike.

Unisex name
Germanic

Meaning

Lou is a short form of Louis or Louise, from the Germanic Hlodowig, "famous in battle".

Origin

Germanic, through French.

History

In the United States Lou reached 125th place for girls in 1880 and 452nd for boys in 1881. It is now used more as a nickname than as a given name.

Lou in other languages

Lou is a short form of Louise and Louis that became a name in its own right in France. In English, Lou also shortens Louisa, Lucy or Lucille, and for boys Louis and Lewis.

Did you know?

Lou Gehrig played 2,130 consecutive games for the New York Yankees; in the United States, ALS is often called Lou Gehrig's disease.

Famous people named Lou

Lou Reed, musician
Lou Gehrig, baseball player
Lou Doillon, singer and actress

Popularity of the name Lou

Lou in the United States

2535thmost popular girls' name in the United States in 2024

1954peak year (1,547 births)

38,049babies named Lou in the United States since 1880

Births per year in the United States. Source: Social Security Administration, names given at least 5 times a year.

Lou was most popular in the United States in the 1950s, with 9,597 births over the decade, 25% of all recorded babies named Lou. Its rise began around 1884, and it peaked in 1954. Half of all babies named Lou in the United States were born before 1944, so it is mostly a grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 127 births a year on average, against 74 in the five years before.

Lou in France

12thmost popular girls' name in France, latest official figures

2005peak year (2,455 births)

59,400babies named Lou in France since 1900

Births per year in France. Source: Insee, French national statistics office, latest official figures. Rounded numbers.

Lou was most popular in France in the 2010s, with 20,905 births over the decade, 35% of all recorded babies named Lou. Its rise began around 1992, and it peaked in 2005. Half of all babies named Lou in France were born before 2012, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 2,275 births a year.

Lou in Belgium

38thmost popular girls' name in Belgium in 2025

2021peak year (440 births)

6,117babies named Lou in Belgium since 1995

Births per year in Belgium. Source: Statbel, names given at least 5 times a year.

Lou in Switzerland

69thmost popular girls' name in Switzerland in 2025

2022peak year (151 births)

2,268babies named Lou in Switzerland since 2000

Births per year in Switzerland. Source: Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Variants and related names

Louis

Sibling names for Lou

Names from the same generation as Lou, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.

For a sister

For a brother

How many people are named Lou? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz

Lou in our baby name lists

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Lou mean?

Lou is a short form of Louis or Louise, from the Germanic Hlodowig, "famous in battle".

What is the origin of the name Lou?

Germanic, through French.

Is Lou a girl's or a boy's name?

Lou is a unisex name, given to both girls and boys. In the United States, 89% of the babies named Lou are girls.

How popular is the name Lou?

In 2024, Lou was the 2535th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 70 births.

What are the variants of the name Lou?

Variants and related names of Lou include Louis.

What are good sibling names for Lou?

Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Odette, Gaia, Ramona and Leonora for a sister, Yunus, Lyam, Wolfgang and Jethro for a brother.

Who are famous people named Lou?

Lou Reed, musician; Lou Gehrig, baseball player; Lou Doillon, singer and actress.