Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Louise
GirlFrench, Germanic· “famous warrior”
- Meaning
- famous warrior
- Origin
- French, Germanic
- Pronunciation
- loo-EEZ
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #516
- US babies 2025
- 579
- Best rank
- #17 (1912)
- Peak year
- 1921
Meaning and origin of Louise
Louise is a French and Germanic name that means “famous warrior”.
Louise is the French feminine form of Louis, from the Germanic Hludwig, combining elements meaning famous and battle. It became popular in France and then in England, where several royal princesses bore the name, including Princess Louise, a daughter of Queen Victoria. Queen Louise of Prussia was widely admired in the early nineteenth century. Louise was a favorite middle name for generations and now feels fresh again as a first name. It is graceful and understated, with Lou and Lulu as friendly nicknames.
Famous parents who chose Louise: Mandy Moore and Taylor Goldsmith (2024). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Louise 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 120 different years. Its best national rank was #17 in 1912, and the most babies received it in 1921, when 9,180 were named Louise. In 2025, 579 babies were named Louise, and it ranked #516 nationally. That is 138% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #19 in 1920, #109 in 1950, #717 in 1980, #1,582 in 2000, #1,496 in 2010, and #516 in 2025. Of the 336,466 US girls named Louise since records began, 25% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 67,973 babies. Since 2010, 5,483 more have been named Louise.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Gladys, Eleanor, Lillian, Lucille, and Thelma.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Louise ranked highest in District of Columbia, Maine, and Colorado.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | #135 | 6 |
| Maine | #163 | 7 |
| Colorado | #218 | 29 |
| Massachusetts | #255 | 23 |
| Missouri | #285 | 22 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Louise is usually pronounced loo-EEZ, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with L and ends in “-se”.
Middle names for Louise
A few middle names that flow with Louise: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Louise
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Lists that include Louise
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Louise mean?
Louise is a French and Germanic name that means “famous warrior”.
What is the origin of the name Louise?
Louise has French and Germanic roots. Louise is the French feminine form of Louis, from the Germanic Hludwig, combining elements meaning famous and battle.
Is Louise a popular name?
Yes. Louise ranked #516 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Louise a boy or girl name?
Louise is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Louise?
Louise is usually pronounced loo-EEZ. 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