Louise
Meaning of Louise
Louise, the elegant French feminine form of Louis, traces its linguistic roots to the Old Germanic “Hludwig,” meaning “renowned warrior,” a blend of “hlud” (fame) and “wig” (battle). Pronounced loo-EEZ, the name swept into English-speaking circles through Norman influence and has long carried the gravitas of European royalty—think Queen Victoria’s sculptor-daughter Princess Louise—and the creative fire of modern icons such as surrealist sculptor Louise Bourgeois and jazz-age star Louise Brooks. In the United States, Social Security records show Louise reigning near the Top 50 a century ago, sliding steadily after the 1960s, then regaining modest traction as vintage names cycle back; 559 newborns received it in 2024, lifting it to rank 461. The resurgence mirrors a broader nostalgia for concise, traditional choices, and Louise offers parents a time-tested blend of strength and grace—virtutes clarissima, as the Romans might say—while remaining unmistakably feminine and internationally familiar.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as loo-EEZ (/luːˈiːz/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
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Notable People Named Louise
| Mary Louise Brooks was a 1920s and 1930s American film actress famed as a flapper icon for popularizing the bob hairstyle. |
| Louise Elisabeth Glück was an American poet who won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Literature for her poetic voice that universalizes individual existence. |
| Louise Michel was a French anarchist renowned for her involvement in the Paris Commune and for pioneering the use of the black flag as an anarchist symbol. |
| Louise Nevelson, an American sculptor born in Russia, was renowned for her monumental monochromatic wooden sculptures. |
| Louise de La Vallière - Françoise-Louise de La Baume Le Blanc was a French noblewoman who served as King Louis XIV's mistress from 1661 to 1667. |
| American author Karen Louise Erdrich writes novels, poetry, and children's books centered on Native American themes and is a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. |
| Alix Louise Sauvage is an Australian Paralympic wheelchair racer and leading coach. |
| Louise of Sweden was Queen of Denmark from 1906 to 1912 as the wife of King Frederick VIII. |
| Louise Casey, Baroness Casey of Blackstock - Baroness Louise Casey is a British crossbench peer and government official renowned for her leadership in tackling homelessness, anti-social behavior, and family welfare issues. |
| Louise of Great Britain, the youngest daughter of King George II, was Queen of Denmark and Norway as the first wife of King Frederick V. |
| Louise de Bettignies was a French spy who worked for Britain against Germany in World War I under the alias Alice Dubois. |
| Louise Margaret Haigh is a British Labour politician who has served as MP for Sheffield Heeley since 2015 and held the role of Transport Secretary in 2024. |
| Louise Gavan Duffy was an educator, suffragist, and Irish nationalist who founded the first Gaelscoil and was present at the 1916 Easter Rising. |
| Thelma Louise Mandrell is an American country music singer celebrated for her 1980s hits and her role in the famous Mandrell family. |
| Louise Farrenc was a French Romantic composer, pianist, and teacher celebrated for her symphonies, chamber works, and piano pieces. |
