The nameLouise
Louise is the French feminine of Louis, elegant and timeless. It is a favourite middle name in English.
- Girl's name
- Germanic
- Feast day
Meaning
Louise comes from Louis, from the Germanic hlod, "fame", and wig, "battle".
Origin
Germanic, through French.
History
Louise was carried by princesses across Europe. In the United States it reached 17th in 1912. In England and Wales it was in the top 50 in the late 1990s and is now common as a middle name.
Louise in other languages
Louise is used in English and French, alongside Louisa. It is Luise in German, Luisa in Italian and Spanish, Luísa in Portuguese, Ludwika in Polish and Lovisa in Swedish.
Nicknames for Louise
The most common nicknames for Louise: Lou and Lulu.
Did you know?
- Louise has been the most popular girls' name in France in several recent years, including 2015, 2020 and 2022 to 2024.
- Louise Bourgeois's giant spider sculpture Maman stands almost ten metres tall.
- The silent film star Louise Brooks helped make the bob haircut famous in the 1920s.
Famous people named Louise
- Louise Bourgeois, artist
- Louise Brooks, actress
- Saint Louise de Marillac
Popularity of the name Louise
Louise in the United States
Louise was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 83,395 births over the decade, 25% of all recorded babies named Louise. Its rise began around 1884, and it peaked in 1920. Half of all babies named Louise in the United States were born before 1925, so it is mostly a great-grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 485 births a year on average, against 333 in the five years before.
Louise in the United Kingdom
Louise was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 6,744 births over the decade, 53% of all recorded babies named Louise. Half of all babies named Louise in the United Kingdom were born before 2002. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 54 births a year on average, against 99 in the five years before.
Louise in Ireland
Louise in France
Louise in Belgium
Louise in Switzerland
Louise in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Louise
Names from the same generation as Louise, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Louise? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Louise with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Louise side by side with the name of your choice.
Louise in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Louise mean?
Louise comes from Louis, from the Germanic hlod, "fame", and wig, "battle".
What is the origin of the name Louise?
Germanic, through French.
Is Louise a girl's or a boy's name?
Louise is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Louise?
In 2024, Louise was the 538th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 559 births.
What are the variants of the name Louise?
Variants and related names of Louise include Lois, Lou-Ann, Lou-Anne, Louane, Louann, Louanne, Louis and Louisa.
What are good sibling names for Louise?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Amalia, Ramona, Ada and Odette for a sister, Otto, Zayd, Musa and Conrad for a brother.
What are common nicknames for Louise?
The most common nicknames for Louise are Lou and Lulu.
Who are famous people named Louise?
Louise Bourgeois, artist; Louise Brooks, actress; Saint Louise de Marillac.