Find out how popular the first name Louise has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Louise by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Louise is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 98% of people named Louise being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 510 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Louise.

The history of the first name Louise

The name Louise is a French feminine form of the Germanic name Louis, derived from the Old Frankish Hludwig, which is composed of the elements hlud meaning "famous" and wig meaning "war" or "battle." It first became popular in France during the Middle Ages and later spread to other European countries.

One of the earliest documented uses of the name Louise dates back to the 9th century, when a Frankish noblewoman named Louise of Saxony lived in the court of Charlemagne. Another notable bearer of the name was Louise of Savoy (1476-1531), the mother of King Francis I of France and a prominent figure during the Renaissance.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, several French princesses and noblewomen bore the name, including Louise de La Vallière (1644-1710), a mistress of King Louis XIV, and Louise Élisabeth de Bourbon (1693-1775), the daughter of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan.

In the 19th century, the name gained further popularity across Europe and beyond. Notable bearers include Louise Michel (1830-1905), a French anarchist and activist during the Paris Commune, and Louise May Alcott (1832-1888), the American author best known for her novel "Little Women."

Another famous Louise was Louise Otto-Peters (1819-1895), a German writer and activist who campaigned for women's rights and education. In the 20th century, Louise Brooks (1906-1985) was an American actress and dancer known for her iconic bobbed hairstyle and roles in silent films.

Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010) was a French-American artist renowned for her large-scale sculptures and installations exploring themes of family, sexuality, and the human psyche. Her works are held in major museums worldwide, and she is considered a pioneering figure in contemporary art.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Louise was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Louise, please contact us.

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