Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Louis

Louis is a French name of Frankish/Germanic origin, derived from the German masculine name Ludwig, from the elements “hlōd” (fame) and “wīg” (war). The French Louis (pronounced loo-EE) became a common name within royal households and families of nobility, auspiciously dating back to the 8th century with Louis I, the son of Charlemagne (ruler of both France and the Holy Roman Empire). Fifteen more kings of France named Louis would follow him, ending with Louis XVI who was executed during the French Revolution (1793). Louis XVI’s great great great grandfather was Louis XIV whose reign lasted for 72 years and coincided with the height of French power and prosperity. The French obviously helped popularize this royal name in England where is has often been rendered as “Lewis”. There are several language variations of Louis including Aloysius (Provençal), Ludwig (German), Luigi (Italian), Luis (Spanish), Ludvig (Scandinavian), and Lewis or Louis (English). Pet or short forms of the name are Lou and Louie. Louis continues to be hugely popular in France, ranked as the 4th most popular boy’s name in 2009. The British prefer the spelling Lewis, but the Americans opt for the French spelling Louis (just with a different pronunciation).

All About the Baby Name – Louis

Personality

OF THE BOY NAME LOUIS

The number Four personality is marked by stability and discipline. This is the personality that follows the rules and is conservative by nature.  They have an earth-bound energy that prefers to build things methodically on top of firm foundations; they don't cut corners. Fours take their time and don't like to be hurried. But the outcome of their endeavors is likely to result in some strong and useful structure, which makes them great engineers and inventors. Fours are anything but frivolous or controversial. This is a trustworthy, straight-forward personality that embodies dedication and organization. They are the backbone and anchor in their relationships, careers and communities. They are tidy, punctual, and full of integrity. Hard-work comes naturally to a Four and they are immensely reliable. This is the personality you can always count on.

Popularity

OF THE BOY NAME LOUIS

Louis is another example of a hugely successful masculine name in American history. At the turn of the 20th century more than 100 years ago, Louis was a Top 20 favorite name for little boys. The name would remain on the Top 100 list for 80 straight years, finally falling off in 1960. The name’s decline in usage had been slow and temperate until the 1990s when his drops in popularity would become more significant. Today, Louis doesn’t fit within the 21st century naming practices. He’s more akin to Walter, Arthur and Albert – that is to say, out-dated and no longer fashionable. However, the name just got another push up the charts in 2010, having regained currency after Sandra Bullock named her newly adopted baby boy Louis. American parents are rediscovering how charming this royal name can be. Perhaps this ‘famous warrior’ has come back into battle for prestige in the world of names. We hope he succeeds.

Quick Facts

ON LOUIS

GENDER:

Boy

ORIGIN:

French

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

2

RANKING POPULARITY:

315

PRONUNCIATION:

LOO-ess

SIMPLE MEANING:

Famous warrior

Characteristics

OF LOUIS

Dependable

Solid

Practical

Hard-working

Industrious

Studious

Conservative

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Louis

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME LOUIS

Louis de Pointe du Lac is a character in Anne Rice’s “Vampire Chronicles", starting with the 1976 fantasy, Interview with the Vampire. The character in the 1994 movie was played by Brad Pitt. Louis is a physically beautiful 18th century plantation owner who becomes a depressed alcoholic after the death of his brother, for which he feels responsible. He is inducted into the rites of vampirism against his will by the vampire, Lestat (in the movie, Tom Cruise, no less), and the two embark upon a centuries-long series of dark adventures. Louis is a sad and conflicted vampire, who has trouble with the necessary evils of the Life. Nonetheless, he takes part in the ritualistic murders as he must, including that of the young girl, Claudia, with whom he and Lestat build a familial unit. Louis is at once a symbol of a romantic idealist and a typical human being, who longs for the redemption that only love can provide.

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME LOUIS

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Louis


Popular Songs

ON LOUIS

Louis, Louis
a song by Chuck Berry

Famous People

NAMED LOUIS

Louis (scores of European kings)
Louis Pasteur (French scientist)
Louis Armstrong (musician)
Lou Gehrig (baseball player)
Louis Braille (invented the Braille System for the blind)
Louis Leakey (British paleontologist)
Louis L'Amour (author)
Louis Gossett, Jr. (actor)
Lou Boudreau (baseball player)
Lou Brock (baseball player)
Louis de Broglie (French physicist)
Louis Chevrolet (founder of the Chevrolet Motor Car Company)
Louis Clarke (Olympic athlete)
Lou Costello (comic/actor)
Louis Dobbs (TV newsman)
Louis Farrakhan (activist)
Lou Ferrigno (bodybuilder/actor)
Louis Gerstner (businessman)
Louis Jolliet (French explorer)
Louis Jordan (musician)
Louis "Kid Kaplan" (boxer)
Louis Klotz ("Red", basketball)
Lou Diamond Philips (actor)
Lou Rawls (musician)
Lou Reed (musician)
Louis Rubenstein (figure skater)
Louis Vuitton (French fashion designer)
Louis (scores of European kings)
Louis Pasteur (French scientist)
Louis Armstrong (musician)
Lou Gehrig (baseball player)
Louis Braille (invented the Braille System for the blind)
Louis Leakey (British paleontologist)
Louis L'Amour (author)
Louis Gossett, Jr. (actor)
Lou Boudreau (baseball player)
Lou Brock (baseball player)
Louis de Broglie (French physicist)
Louis Chevrolet (founder of the Chevrolet Motor Car Company)
Louis Clarke (Olympic athlete)
Lou Costello (comic/actor)
Louis Dobbs (TV newsman)
Louis Farrakhan (activist)
Lou Ferrigno (bodybuilder/actor)
Louis Gerstner (businessman)
Louis Jolliet (French explorer)
Louis Jordan (musician)
Louis "Kid Kaplan" (boxer)
Louis Klotz ("Red", basketball)
Lou Diamond Philips (actor)
Lou Rawls (musician)
Lou Reed (musician)
Louis Rubenstein (figure skater)
Louis Vuitton (French fashion designer)
Louis (scores of European kings)
Louis Pasteur (French scientist)
Louis Armstrong (musician)
Lou Gehrig (baseball player)
Louis Braille (invented the Braille System for the blind)
Louis Leakey (British paleontologist)
Louis L'Amour (author)
Louis Gossett, Jr. (actor)
Lou Boudreau (baseball player)
Lou Brock (baseball player)
Louis de Broglie (French physicist)
Louis Chevrolet (founder of the Chevrolet Motor Car Company)
Louis Clarke (Olympic athlete)
Lou Costello (comic/actor)
Louis Dobbs (TV newsman)
Louis Farrakhan (activist)
Lou Ferrigno (bodybuilder/actor)
Louis Gerstner (businessman)
Louis Jolliet (French explorer)
Louis Jordan (musician)
Louis "Kid Kaplan" (boxer)
Louis Klotz ("Red", basketball)
Lou Diamond Philips (actor)
Lou Rawls (musician)
Lou Reed (musician)
Louis Rubenstein (figure skater)
Louis Vuitton (French fashion designer)

Children of Famous People

NAMED LOUIS

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Louis

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME LOUIS

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Louis