Louis
LOO-ee /luˈiː/
Meaning of Louis
Louis is the French form of the Old German Chlodovech / Ludovicus: hlud ('famous') + wig ('warrior, battle'). The same root gives Ludwig (German), Lewis (English) and Luigi (Italian). Eighteen French kings bore the name Louis, cementing it as the quintessential French royal name. The English pronunciation differs markedly from the French — LOO-ee vs. LOO-is.
How to pronounce Louis
The s is silent in the French and most English pronunciations (LOO-ee). Lewis/Lewis is the anglicised spelling with a pronounced final s.
Current popularity of Louis
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| France (INSEE) | 2024 | #8 |
| United Kingdom (ONS) | 2024 | #8 |
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #250 |
Cultural notes
Prince Louis of Wales (b. 2018) is driving a measurable uplift in UK registry numbers for the name.
Notable bearers of Louis
Eighteen French kings; Louis XIV ('the Sun King'); Louis Armstrong (musician); Louis Pasteur.
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Louis — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
- https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2540004
- https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/datasets/babynamesenglandandwalesbabynamesstatisticsgirls
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31