Louis
Louis: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈluː.i/ · /ˈlu.ɪs/
Meaning and origin of Louis
Root meaning: “loud; famous”
- A male given name from French.
- A female given name.
Etymology
From French Louis, from Middle French Loïs, Loïc, &c., from Old French Looïs, Luis, Lodhuvigs, Lodevis, Lodhwig, &c., from Latin Ludovicus, from Clodovicus, from Frankish *Hlūdawīg, from Proto-Germanic *hlūdaz (“loud; famous”) + *wīgą (“battle”). Doublet of Lewis (which is inherited since the Middle Ages) and, more remotely, Aloysius, Luis, Ludwig, Luigi, and Clovis.
How popular is Louis?
Since 1880, 2,847 girls and 406,470 boys in the U.S. have been named Louis (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #674 in 1883. Its highest rank for boys was #18 in 1882. In 2025 it ranked #249 for boys, with 1,397 babies given the name.
Names similar to Louis
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More French boy names
Sibling name ideas for Louis
Sister and brother names that share Louis's French roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Louis FAQ
What does the name Louis mean?
Louis traces back to a root meaning "loud; famous". A male given name from French. A female given name. From French Louis, from Middle French Loïs, Loïc, &c., from Old French Looïs, Luis, Lodhuvigs, Lodevis, Lodhwig, &c., from Latin Ludovicus, from Clodovicus, from Frankish *Hlūdawīg, from Proto-Germanic *hlūdaz (“loud; famous”) + *wīgą (“battle”). Doublet of Lewis (which is inherited since the Middle Ages) and, more remotely, Aloysius, Luis, Ludwig, Luigi, and Clovis.
What is the origin of the name Louis?
Louis is listed as a name of French origin.
How popular is the name Louis?
Since 1880, 2,847 girls and 406,470 boys in the U.S. have been named Louis (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #674 in 1883. Its highest rank for boys was #18 in 1882. In 2025 it ranked #249 for boys, with 1,397 babies given the name.
Is Louis a boy or girl name?
Louis is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 2,847 girls and 406,470 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.