The story behind Louis
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.
Other language forms and explanations (1)
Dutch entry
Borrowed from French Louis. Doublet of Lodewijk.
Pronunciation
General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈluː.i/
Regional pronunciation variants
- General-American: /ˈlu.ɪs/
- General-American: /ˈlu.əs/
- Australia: /ˈlʉː.i/
- Australia: /ˈlʉ.əs/
- Dutch: /luˈi/
Popularity
Louis ranked #14230 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Louis
Charles
From French Charles, from Old French Charles, Carles, from Latin Carolus, from and also reinfluenced by Frankish and Old High German Karl, from Proto-Germanic *karilaz (“free…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Frans
From French François and Latin Franciscus. From Swedish Frans < Franciscus (“French”). From Dutch Frans.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Georges
Borrowed from French Georges.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Jules
From French. Doublet of Julius.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Yves
Unadapted borrowing from French Yves.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Lars
Borrowed from North Germanic, from Latin Laurentius.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Louis
Adrienne
From the French Adrienne, the feminine form of Adrien (equivalent to English Adrian).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Alexandre
Borrowed from French Alexandre and Portuguese Alexandre. Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese Alexandre, from Latin Alexander, from Ancient Greek Ἀλέξανδρος (Aléxandros).…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Alfons
Borrowed from French Alphonse.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Louis
Adela
Latinate form of French Adèle, short form of Germanic compound names beginning with Proto-Germanic *aþalaz (“noble”). Compare Old English æþele, English athel. Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Adele
Borrowed from French Adèle, equivalent of Adela, from a Germanic root meaning “noble”. Compare athel, German edel, Old English æþele. From French Adèle. Borrowed from French…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aimee
Borrowed from French Aimée (“beloved”). A variation of the English Amy.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length