Louis: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced LOO-ee · 2 syllables
Louis means “loud; famous; battle”, from French.
From French Louis, from Middle French Lois, Loic, &c., from Old French Loois, Luis, Lodhuvigs, Lodevis, Lodhwig, &c., from Latin Ludovicus, from Clodovicus, from Frankish *Hludawig, from Proto-Germanic *hludaz (“loud; famous”) + *wiga (“battle”). Doublet of Lewis (which is inherited since the Middle Ages) and, more remotely, Aloysius, Luis, Ludwig, Luigi, and Clovis.
- Meaning
- loud; famous; battle
- Origin
- French
- Pronunciation
- LOO-ee
- US rank (2025)
- #249
- US babies a year
- about 1,463 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 1880
- Style
- Vintage, Classic
- Nicknames
- Lou, Louie
How popular is Louis?
Louis was the #249 name in the US in 2025, given to 1,397 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 1880.
Around the world
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| United States | #249 |
| England & Wales | #52 |
| Scotland | #74 |
| Northern Ireland | #93 |
| Ireland | #121 |
| France | #4 |
| Norway | #292 |
| Canada | #24 |
| Australia | #44 |
How old are people named Louis?
Half of US adults named Louis are older than 63; most are between 25 and 87. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Sibling names for Louis
Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Louis have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.
Names like Louis
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
On these lists
Questions about Louis
What does the name Louis mean?
Louis means “loud; famous; battle”. It comes from French.
How do you pronounce Louis?
Louis is pronounced LOO-ee.
How popular is the name Louis?
Louis was the #249 name in the US in 2025, given to 1,397 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 1880.
How old are people named Louis?
Half of US adults named Louis are older than 63. Most are between 25 and 87.