Louis
Say it: LOO-ee/ˈluː.i/
BoyMeans famous in battle5 letters2 syllables
#115
in Ireland (2025)
#121 with spellings combined
48
babies in 2025
#68
best rank (2018)
2,143
babies since 1964
Down 15
10-year rank change
Louis through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 48 | #121 |
| 2024 | 68 | #87 |
| 2023 | 67 | #92 |
| 2022 | 76 | #84 |
| 2021 | 105 | #69 |
| 2020 | 77 | #83 |
| 2019 | 100 | #70 |
| 2018 | 101 | #68 |
| 2017 | 89 | #78 |
| 2016 | 88 | #78 |
| 2015 | 67 | #106 |
| 2014 | 65 | #112 |
| 2013 | 55 | #122 |
| 2012 | 57 | #127 |
| 2011 | 53 | #132 |
| 2010 | 59 | #128 |
| 2009 | 72 | #107 |
| 2008 | 69 | #112 |
| 2007 | 81 | #86 |
| 2006 | 53 | #114 |
| 2005 | 47 | #118 |
| 2004 | 57 | #104 |
| 2003 | 39 | #123 |
| 2002 | 32 | #135 |
| 2001 | 46 | #104 |
| 2000 | 32 | #130 |
| 1999 | 28 | #130 |
| 1998 | 20 | #150 |
| 1997 | 25 | #147 |
| 1996 | 16 | #180 |
| 1995 | 9 | #222 |
| 1994 | 10 | #198 |
| 1993 | 15 | #180 |
| 1992 | 17 | #170 |
| 1991 | 6 | #242 |
| 1990 | 11 | #193 |
| 1989 | 7 | #215 |
| 1988 | 5 | #254 |
| 1987 | 6 | #235 |
| 1986 | 9 | #210 |
| 1985 | 8 | #207 |
| 1984 | 5 | #250 |
| 1983 | 9 | #209 |
| 1982 | 10 | #205 |
| 1981 | 14 | #181 |
| 1980 | 17 | #174 |
| 1979 | 8 | #228 |
| 1978 | 9 | #212 |
| 1977 | 4 | #293 |
| 1976 | 8 | #222 |
| 1975 | 12 | #198 |
| 1974 | 10 | #208 |
| 1973 | 12 | #193 |
| 1972 | 13 | #184 |
| 1971 | 11 | #193 |
| 1970 | 16 | #157 |
| 1969 | 15 | #154 |
| 1968 | 16 | #143 |
| 1967 | 13 | #152 |
| 1966 | 20 | #123 |
| 1965 | 13 | #144 |
| 1964 | 13 | #139 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Louis mean?
Famous in battle
French, from the Frankish name Hlūdawīg, from words for loud or famous and battle.
Say it right
LOOee
Most Irish people say it the French way, LOO-ee. LOO-iss, like Lewis, is also heard.
Not:LOO-iss
The story of Louis
Louis is the French form of the old Frankish name that also gave German Ludwig and Latin Ludovicus. It is built from Germanic words meaning “loud” or “famous” and “battle”, so it is usually explained as “famous in battle”. Clovis, the first king of the Franks, bore an early form of the same name. English has two versions: Louis, taken from French, and Lewis, which has been in English since the Middle Ages.
The name is best known from the long line of French kings called Louis. In Ireland it is carried by the painter Louis le Brocquy and the poet Louis MacNeice.
Louis has been given in Ireland throughout the CSO records, though in small numbers until about 2000. The count was highest in 2021, with 105 boys, and its best rank was number 64 in 2018. It was number 115 in 2025. The CSO counts Lewis and Louie as separate names.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Louis (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Louis (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
LouLouie
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Louis | 48 | 2,143 |
In Northern Ireland
#126 in 2025 with 18 babies. Best rank #84 (2004); 592 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.