The nameLouis
Louis is a boy's name of Germanic origin meaning "famous in battle". Borne by eighteen kings of France, it is a timeless classic that has also found a home in Britain and North America.
- Boy's name
- Germanic
- Feast day
Meaning
Louis comes from the Frankish name Hludowig, built from hlud, "fame, renown", and wig, "battle, war". It can be understood as "famous warrior" or "renowned in battle".
Origin
Germanic, through French. Hludowig was first written Clovis, the name of the Frankish king baptised around 500, then Ludovicus in Latin and finally Louis in Old French. Ludwig in German, Luis in Spanish and Lewis in English all come from the same name.
History
Louis became the royal name of France: Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne, opened a line of eighteen kings called Louis, among them Saint Louis (Louis IX), canonised in 1297, and Louis XIV, the Sun King. The Normans brought the name to England, where it was often spelled Lewis. The French spelling came back into fashion in Britain in recent decades, helped by Prince Louis of Wales, born in 2018. In English it is usually pronounced "LOO-ee", sometimes "LOO-iss".
Louis in other languages
Louis is also Lewis in English, Ludwig in German, Luigi in Italian, Luis in Spanish, Luís in Portuguese, Lluís in Catalan and Lodewijk in Dutch. Ludovic and the Italian Ludovico come from the Latin Ludovicus, and Clovis is the oldest form.
Nicknames for Louis
The most common nicknames for Louis: Lou and Louie.
Did you know?
- Louis XIV reigned for 72 years, from 1643 to 1715, the longest reign in French history.
- Louisiana is named after Louis XIV: the explorer René Robert Cavelier de La Salle gave it that name in 1682.
- The city of St. Louis, Missouri, founded in 1764, is named after King Louis IX of France.
Famous people named Louis
- Saint Louis (Louis IX), King of France
- Louis XIV, the Sun King
- Louis Pasteur, scientist
- Louis Armstrong, jazz musician
- Louis Tomlinson, singer
- Prince Louis of Wales
Popularity of the name Louis
Louis in the United States
Louis was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 68,296 births over the decade, 17% of all recorded babies named Louis. Half of all babies named Louis in the United States were born before 1942, so it is mostly a grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 1,438 births a year.
Louis in the United Kingdom
Louis was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 16,298 births over the decade, 43% of all recorded babies named Louis. Half of all babies named Louis in the United Kingdom were born before 2008, 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 1,243 births a year.
Louis in Ireland
Louis in France
Louis in Belgium
Louis in Switzerland
Louis in Austria
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Louis
Names from the same generation as Louis, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Louis? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Louis with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Louis side by side with the name of your choice.
Louis in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Louis mean?
Louis comes from the Frankish name Hludowig, built from hlud, "fame, renown", and wig, "battle, war". It can be understood as "famous warrior" or "renowned in battle".
What is the origin of the name Louis?
Germanic, through French. Hludowig was first written Clovis, the name of the Frankish king baptised around 500, then Ludovicus in Latin and finally Louis in Old French. Ludwig in German, Luis in Spanish and Lewis in English all come from the same name.
Is Louis a girl's or a boy's name?
Louis is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Louis?
In 2024, Louis was the 236th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 1,503 births.
What are the variants of the name Louis?
Variants and related names of Louis include Alois, Aloïse, Aloys, Aloyse, Aloysius, Clovis, Lewis and Loïc.
What are good sibling names for Louis?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Annie, Talia, Mina and Anastasia for a sister, Walter, Frederick, Hugo and Leonard for a brother.
What are common nicknames for Louis?
The most common nicknames for Louis are Lou and Louie.
Who are famous people named Louis?
Saint Louis (Louis IX), King of France; Louis XIV, the Sun King; Louis Pasteur, scientist; Louis Armstrong, jazz musician.