Louis
Boy name · American · French · German
Meaningfamous warrior · French
- US rank
- #249
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #18 in 1882
1,391 babies were named Louis in the US in 2025. It has climbed 11 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Louis you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Louis
Louis Armstrong
American jazz musician, trumpeter and singer (1901–1971)
Choose Louis and your child shares a first name with Louis Armstrong, an American jazz musician, trumpeter and singer. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Louis, like who?” Louis Armstrong's Wikipedia article is available in 178 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Louis Armstrong on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: World-Telegram staff photographer, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 1,228 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Louis, 1,391 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Louis would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryLouis has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Louiss, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1882, when it ranked #18. Today it's #249, so it could be due a comeback.
- Where it's lovedLouis is most popular in Vermont, where it ranks #80, followed by Minnesota (#99) and Washington, D.C. (#107). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn French, Louis means “famous warrior”. Our records link it to American, French and German roots.
About the name Louis
Louis is a boy name of American, French and German origin meaning “famous warrior”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with L and ending in “-uis”. US birth records list Louis for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1882, when it ranked #18 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #249, with 1,391 babies.
Origin:American namesFrench namesGerman names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 7,557 | 132 boys |
| 1890s | 7,407 | 135 boys |
| 1900s | 7,626 | 131 boys |
| 1910s | 7,770 | 129 boys |
| 1920s | 6,145 | 163 boys |
| 1930s | 4,525 | 221 boys |
| 1940s | 3,357 | 298 boys |
| 1950s | 2,384 | 420 boys |
| 1960s | 1,724 | 580 boys |
| 1970s | 1,216 | 823 boys |
| 1980s | 941 | 1,063 boys |
| 1990s | 739 | 1,354 boys |
| 2000s | 515 | 1,942 boys |
| 2010s | 630 | 1,586 boys |
| 2020s | 828 | 1,208 boys |
More American boy names
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: Maverick · independent, unbranded
- Unisex name: Kai · sea
- Unisex name: Jace · healer
- Boy name: Jaxon · son of Jack
- Boy name: Milo · possibly gracious
- Boy name: Bryson · son of Brice
- Boy name: Nash · at the ash tree
Questions about the name Louis
What does the name Louis mean?
Louis means “famous warrior” in French.
What is the origin of the name Louis?
Louis has American, French, German roots in our records. Other American names include Henry, Maverick, Kai.
Is Louis a boy or girl name?
Louis is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Louis?
Louis ranked #249 for US boys in 2025, given to 1,391 babies. Its best year was 1882 (#18).