Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Lou
UnisexEnglish, French· “short for Louis or Louise, famous warrior”
- Meaning
- short for Louis or Louise, famous warrior
- Origin
- English, French
- Pronunciation
- LOO
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #1,929
- US babies 2025
- 81
- Best rank
- #452 (1881)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Lou
Lou is an English and French name that means “short for Louis or Louise, famous warrior”.
Lou is a short form of Louis for boys and Louise or Louisa for girls, which makes it a true unisex choice. Louis comes from the Frankish Chlodowig, built from elements meaning fame and warrior, and it was the name of eighteen kings of France. Lou has been used on its own since at least the nineteenth century. It is said LOO. Notable bearers include baseball's Lou Gehrig and the musician Lou Reed. In France, Lou has become a popular girls' name in its own right. The name is compact and warm, and it can stand alone or serve as a middle name.
Other spellings with the same sound: Lue, Lu, Lew.
Popularity over time
Lou has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 40 different years. Its best national rank was #452 in 1881, and the most babies received it in 2025, when 81 were named Lou. In 2025, 81 babies were named Lou, and it ranked #1,929 nationally. That is 113% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #1,267 in 1920, #1,306 in 1950, #2,257 in 1980, #6,169 in 2000, #5,633 in 2010, and #1,929 in 2025. Of the 4,089 US boys named Lou since records began, 13% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 427 babies. Since 2010, 728 more have been named Lou.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Kallan, Lowen, Lior, Kamani, and Layken.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Lou ranked highest in Iowa, Minnesota, and Michigan.
Gender, sound and spelling
Lou is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 45% of US babies named Lou were girls and 55% were boys.
Lou is usually pronounced LOO, with one syllable. It has three letters, starts with L and ends in “-ou”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Lue, Lu, and Lew.
Middle names for Lou
A few middle names that flow with Lou: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Lou
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Lists that include Lou
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lou mean?
Lou is an English and French name that means “short for Louis or Louise, famous warrior”.
What is the origin of the name Lou?
Lou has English, French, and Germanic roots. Lou is a short form of Louis for boys and Louise or Louisa for girls, which makes it a true unisex choice.
Is Lou a popular name?
Not especially. Lou ranked #1,929 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Lou a boy or girl name?
Lou is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 45% of US babies named Lou were girls and 55% were boys.
How do you pronounce Lou?
Lou is usually pronounced LOO. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings