Fun Facts About the Name Louis
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 406,450 boys named Louis from 1880 through 2025.
- Decades of popularity: Louis stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 80 consecutive years, from 1880 through 1959.
- More than 409 thousand babies named Louis: U.S. records list 409,297 babies given the name Louis from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,847 girls received the name Louis - about 1 girl for every 143 boys.
What Does the Name Louis Mean?
Louis means "famous warrior" or "renowned in battle." It comes from a Frankish personal name reconstructed as Hlūdwig, built from hlūd- ("fame, famous, loud") and wīg- ("battle, fight"). Latin writers rendered the name Chlodovicus and, in later medieval Latin, Ludovicus; Old French had it as Looïs, the direct ancestor of modern French Louis. The final -s is the Old French nominative singular ending, which stayed attached after Old French gave up its two-case system. The Latin-looking spellings are adaptations of a Germanic name, not evidence of Latin origin, and the literal sense "famous in battle" should not be confused with the looser use of the name to mean simply "warrior."
Louis Name History & Origins
The earliest well-documented bearer of the name in western Europe is Clovis I (c. 466 - 511), the Frankish king who unified the Frankish tribes and converted to Catholic Christianity. Latin sources of the period, including Gregory of Tours, call him Chlodovechus. Clovis and Louis are forms of the same Germanic name, with Clovis preserving an older shape of it. Carolingian rulers then kept the name alive: Louis the Pious (d. 840), son of Charlemagne, appears in Latin texts as Hludowicus and Ludovicus, and the Germanic form survived in Germany as Ludwig.
In France the name became closely tied to the monarchy. It was borne by Capetian and later kings from Louis VI onward, including Louis IX (ruled 1226 - 1270), canonized as Saint Louis in 1297, and continuing through Louis XIV. Eighteen kings of France were named Louis. Royal use, together with the cult of Saint Louis, kept the name common in French-speaking lands for centuries.
The Normans carried related forms of the name to England, where it appears in medieval records as Lewis and Lowis; the spellings Louis and Lewis later separated, with Lewis becoming the usual English surname and given name. In other European languages the same name took local shapes, among them German Ludwig, Dutch Lodewijk, Italian Luigi, Spanish Luis, and Portuguese Luís. French settlers and French-speaking communities brought the form Louis to North America, where it has remained in use alongside its English relative.
How Popular is the Name Louis?
Louis remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1880 to 1959. Its highest annual birth count was in 1921, and people born that year turn 105 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #14,230 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #16,626 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2022 | #16,727 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #14,418 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2019 | #17,021 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #18,063 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #17,042 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #16,518 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #11,294 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1995 | #9,217 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #8,522 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #11,275 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #14,575 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #14,458 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #6,000 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1989 | #5,184 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1988 | #5,208 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1987 | #7,741 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #3,602 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1985 | #4,216 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1984 | #4,634 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1983 | #4,588 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1982 | #4,456 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1981 | #3,580 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1980 | #3,934 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1979 | #5,277 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1978 | #3,709 | 20 | 0.0013% |
| 1977 | #4,157 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1976 | #3,149 | 23 | 0.0016% |
| 1975 | #4,741 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1974 | #3,797 | 17 | 0.0012% |
| 1973 | #4,725 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1972 | #3,129 | 21 | 0.0014% |
| 1971 | #3,592 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1970 | #3,074 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1969 | #2,740 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1968 | #2,335 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 1967 | #2,743 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1966 | #2,494 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1965 | #2,998 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1964 | #3,450 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1963 | #3,415 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1962 | #2,707 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1961 | #2,907 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1960 | #2,410 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1959 | #2,132 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1958 | #2,421 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1957 | #2,094 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1956 | #2,135 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1955 | #2,600 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1954 | #2,657 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1953 | #1,769 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 1952 | #2,173 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1951 | #1,865 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1950 | #1,859 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1949 | #1,754 | 30 | 0.0018% |
| 1948 | #1,758 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 1947 | #1,924 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1946 | #1,665 | 29 | 0.0018% |
| 1945 | #1,500 | 30 | 0.0023% |
| 1944 | #1,895 | 21 | 0.0016% |
| 1943 | #1,571 | 29 | 0.0021% |
| 1942 | #1,838 | 22 | 0.0016% |
| 1941 | #1,434 | 30 | 0.0025% |
| 1940 | #1,332 | 32 | 0.0028% |
| 1939 | #1,451 | 27 | 0.0025% |
| 1938 | #1,682 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1937 | #1,434 | 27 | 0.0025% |
| 1936 | #1,195 | 36 | 0.0035% |
| 1935 | #1,292 | 32 | 0.0031% |
| 1934 | #1,060 | 44 | 0.0042% |
| 1933 | #1,279 | 32 | 0.0032% |
| 1932 | #950 | 56 | 0.0052% |
| 1931 | #915 | 58 | 0.0054% |
| 1930 | #1,025 | 52 | 0.0046% |
| 1929 | #1,006 | 52 | 0.0047% |
| 1928 | #944 | 63 | 0.0055% |
| 1927 | #909 | 68 | 0.0057% |
| 1926 | #885 | 71 | 0.0060% |
| 1925 | #902 | 68 | 0.0056% |
| 1924 | #1,022 | 57 | 0.0046% |
| 1923 | #1,044 | 53 | 0.0044% |
| 1922 | #935 | 63 | 0.0052% |
| 1921 | #1,086 | 49 | 0.0040% |
| 1920 | #953 | 59 | 0.0049% |
| 1919 | #1,128 | 43 | 0.0038% |
| 1918 | #1,003 | 52 | 0.0045% |
| 1917 | #941 | 55 | 0.0051% |
| 1916 | #1,322 | 31 | 0.0030% |
| 1915 | #942 | 50 | 0.0051% |
| 1914 | #894 | 43 | 0.0056% |
| 1913 | #974 | 31 | 0.0050% |
| 1912 | #1,132 | 22 | 0.0039% |
| 1911 | #1,092 | 17 | 0.0041% |
| 1910 | #824 | 28 | 0.0071% |
| 1909 | #953 | 19 | 0.0055% |
| 1908 | #1,069 | 15 | 0.0045% |
| 1907 | #1,183 | 12 | 0.0038% |
| 1906 | #1,276 | 10 | 0.0034% |
| 1905 | #1,045 | 14 | 0.0048% |
| 1904 | #1,146 | 11 | 0.0040% |
| 1903 | #850 | 17 | 0.0065% |
| 1902 | #1,715 | 6 | 0.0023% |
| 1901 | #1,287 | 8 | 0.0033% |
| 1900 | #1,035 | 14 | 0.0047% |
| 1899 | #1,151 | 9 | 0.0039% |
| 1898 | #1,030 | 12 | 0.0046% |
| 1897 | #1,131 | 9 | 0.0038% |
| 1896 | #1,174 | 9 | 0.0038% |
| 1895 | #1,255 | 8 | 0.0034% |
| 1894 | #1,197 | 8 | 0.0036% |
| 1893 | #885 | 12 | 0.0056% |
| 1892 | #1,135 | 8 | 0.0038% |
| 1891 | #684 | 16 | 0.0086% |
| 1890 | #858 | 11 | 0.0058% |
| 1889 | #934 | 9 | 0.0050% |
| 1888 | #1,093 | 7 | 0.0039% |
| 1887 | #996 | 7 | 0.0048% |
| 1886 | #806 | 9 | 0.0062% |
| 1885 | #1,135 | 5 | 0.0038% |
| 1884 | #985 | 6 | 0.0047% |
| 1883 | #674 | 9 | 0.0080% |
| 1882 | #863 | 6 | 0.0056% |
| 1880 | #893 | 5 | 0.0055% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #249 | 1,391 | 0.0814% |
| 2024 | #236 | 1,503 | 0.0876% |
| 2023 | #238 | 1,477 | 0.0864% |
| 2022 | #245 | 1,442 | 0.0827% |
| 2021 | #251 | 1,418 | 0.0811% |
| 2020 | #260 | 1,334 | 0.0773% |
| 2019 | #249 | 1,475 | 0.0822% |
| 2018 | #260 | 1,387 | 0.0764% |
| 2017 | #277 | 1,302 | 0.0704% |
| 2016 | #290 | 1,242 | 0.0655% |
| 2015 | #296 | 1,210 | 0.0631% |
| 2014 | #289 | 1,229 | 0.0640% |
| 2013 | #315 | 1,070 | 0.0566% |
| 2012 | #312 | 1,056 | 0.0557% |
| 2011 | #332 | 921 | 0.0485% |
| 2010 | #342 | 921 | 0.0480% |
| 2009 | #353 | 885 | 0.0446% |
| 2008 | #350 | 909 | 0.0446% |
| 2007 | #345 | 937 | 0.0452% |
| 2006 | #320 | 1,001 | 0.0487% |
| 2005 | #324 | 1,002 | 0.0502% |
| 2004 | #302 | 1,050 | 0.0529% |
| 2003 | #283 | 1,103 | 0.0558% |
| 2002 | #272 | 1,143 | 0.0589% |
| 2001 | #279 | 1,096 | 0.0564% |
| 2000 | #279 | 1,135 | 0.0578% |
| 1999 | #262 | 1,143 | 0.0595% |
| 1998 | #252 | 1,181 | 0.0618% |
| 1997 | #235 | 1,311 | 0.0695% |
| 1996 | #235 | 1,283 | 0.0677% |
| 1995 | #218 | 1,360 | 0.0714% |
| 1994 | #206 | 1,411 | 0.0730% |
| 1993 | #194 | 1,582 | 0.0807% |
| 1992 | #192 | 1,619 | 0.0811% |
| 1991 | #187 | 1,725 | 0.0854% |
| 1990 | #168 | 1,820 | 0.0886% |
| 1989 | #163 | 1,834 | 0.0917% |
| 1988 | #166 | 1,707 | 0.0892% |
| 1987 | #161 | 1,683 | 0.0901% |
| 1986 | #160 | 1,686 | 0.0916% |
| 1985 | #164 | 1,685 | 0.0912% |
| 1984 | #158 | 1,711 | 0.0948% |
| 1983 | #155 | 1,763 | 0.0983% |
| 1982 | #162 | 1,694 | 0.0934% |
| 1981 | #151 | 1,805 | 0.1008% |
| 1980 | #151 | 1,787 | 0.1002% |
| 1979 | #148 | 1,839 | 0.1068% |
| 1978 | #150 | 1,753 | 0.1068% |
| 1977 | #143 | 1,865 | 0.1135% |
| 1976 | #142 | 1,782 | 0.1136% |
| 1975 | #138 | 1,812 | 0.1160% |
| 1974 | #134 | 1,933 | 0.1229% |
| 1973 | #135 | 1,906 | 0.1223% |
| 1972 | #130 | 2,102 | 0.1296% |
| 1971 | #126 | 2,513 | 0.1421% |
| 1970 | #124 | 2,642 | 0.1422% |
| 1969 | #121 | 2,623 | 0.1467% |
| 1968 | #109 | 2,709 | 0.1559% |
| 1967 | #107 | 2,895 | 0.1660% |
| 1966 | #104 | 2,992 | 0.1678% |
| 1965 | #101 | 3,269 | 0.1757% |
| 1964 | #102 | 3,587 | 0.1800% |
| 1963 | #104 | 3,620 | 0.1783% |
| 1962 | #107 | 3,595 | 0.1738% |
| 1961 | #105 | 3,963 | 0.1866% |
| 1960 | #106 | 4,125 | 0.1935% |
| 1959 | #100 | 4,313 | 0.2021% |
| 1958 | #94 | 4,443 | 0.2093% |
| 1957 | #86 | 4,695 | 0.2176% |
| 1956 | #82 | 4,911 | 0.2322% |
| 1955 | #82 | 4,777 | 0.2319% |
| 1954 | #81 | 4,848 | 0.2378% |
| 1953 | #77 | 4,986 | 0.2528% |
| 1952 | #79 | 4,922 | 0.2532% |
| 1951 | #76 | 5,089 | 0.2703% |
| 1950 | #66 | 4,947 | 0.2763% |
| 1949 | #65 | 5,235 | 0.2951% |
| 1948 | #64 | 5,386 | 0.3070% |
| 1947 | #64 | 5,778 | 0.3158% |
| 1946 | #63 | 4,918 | 0.3028% |
| 1945 | #55 | 4,480 | 0.3329% |
| 1944 | #54 | 4,678 | 0.3432% |
| 1943 | #53 | 5,033 | 0.3526% |
| 1942 | #51 | 5,151 | 0.3730% |
| 1941 | #50 | 4,446 | 0.3620% |
| 1940 | #50 | 4,324 | 0.3730% |
| 1939 | #49 | 4,224 | 0.3816% |
| 1938 | #47 | 4,390 | 0.3958% |
| 1937 | #46 | 4,355 | 0.4083% |
| 1936 | #44 | 4,419 | 0.4261% |
| 1935 | #42 | 4,622 | 0.4439% |
| 1934 | #40 | 4,682 | 0.4534% |
| 1933 | #40 | 4,695 | 0.4735% |
| 1932 | #39 | 5,133 | 0.4916% |
| 1931 | #37 | 5,424 | 0.5217% |
| 1930 | #34 | 5,810 | 0.5294% |
| 1929 | #32 | 5,995 | 0.5574% |
| 1928 | #32 | 6,297 | 0.5685% |
| 1927 | #29 | 6,665 | 0.5914% |
| 1926 | #30 | 6,513 | 0.5865% |
| 1925 | #29 | 6,798 | 0.6092% |
| 1924 | #28 | 7,042 | 0.6217% |
| 1923 | #27 | 7,075 | 0.6455% |
| 1922 | #27 | 7,095 | 0.6520% |
| 1921 | #29 | 7,247 | 0.6580% |
| 1920 | #28 | 6,966 | 0.6545% |
| 1919 | #28 | 6,661 | 0.6796% |
| 1918 | #24 | 7,082 | 0.6988% |
| 1917 | #23 | 6,771 | 0.7316% |
| 1916 | #22 | 6,817 | 0.7659% |
| 1915 | #23 | 6,518 | 0.7681% |
| 1914 | #20 | 5,495 | 0.8392% |
| 1913 | #20 | 4,258 | 0.8307% |
| 1912 | #20 | 3,591 | 0.8352% |
| 1911 | #21 | 1,838 | 0.8134% |
| 1910 | #24 | 1,569 | 0.8079% |
| 1909 | #24 | 1,231 | 0.7506% |
| 1908 | #22 | 1,317 | 0.8533% |
| 1907 | #25 | 1,111 | 0.7567% |
| 1906 | #22 | 1,101 | 0.8269% |
| 1905 | #25 | 981 | 0.7415% |
| 1904 | #26 | 936 | 0.7306% |
| 1903 | #25 | 889 | 0.7456% |
| 1902 | #25 | 912 | 0.7435% |
| 1901 | #25 | 797 | 0.7486% |
| 1900 | #26 | 1,097 | 0.7290% |
| 1899 | #26 | 770 | 0.7250% |
| 1898 | #27 | 861 | 0.7018% |
| 1897 | #23 | 831 | 0.7370% |
| 1896 | #22 | 871 | 0.7285% |
| 1895 | #21 | 913 | 0.7777% |
| 1894 | #21 | 869 | 0.7506% |
| 1893 | #22 | 816 | 0.7265% |
| 1892 | #22 | 865 | 0.7088% |
| 1891 | #19 | 786 | 0.7767% |
| 1890 | #19 | 860 | 0.7746% |
| 1889 | #19 | 837 | 0.7569% |
| 1888 | #19 | 884 | 0.7315% |
| 1887 | #19 | 791 | 0.7800% |
| 1886 | #19 | 846 | 0.7637% |
| 1885 | #19 | 809 | 0.7505% |
| 1884 | #19 | 886 | 0.7742% |
| 1883 | #19 | 796 | 0.7608% |
| 1882 | #18 | 852 | 0.7494% |
| 1881 | #19 | 746 | 0.7406% |
| 1880 | #19 | 828 | 0.7494% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
