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Lou

“Variant of Louis — Famous in battle” — Frankish via French origin

Boy's name · #1919 in the US (2025) · Vintage

Lou has appeared in US records since 1880 — best rank #442 (1881) · 4,089 babies named Lou all-time · 1 in 20,000 boys born in 2025.

Around the world: #46 in Belgium (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 3 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Lous

• Lou Reed — American rock musician (1942–2013)
• Lou Ferrigno — American actor and bodybuilder
• Lou Gehrig — American baseball player (1903–1941)
• Lou Diamond Phillips — American actor
• Lou Costello — American actor and comedian (1906–1959)

In stories & tradition

• Lou and Andy — Little Britain
• Lou Grant — fictional human
• Lou — The Simpsons

What Lous become

Among 969 notable people named Lou:

Athletes appear 2× more often than among typical names — e.g. Lou Gehrig, American baseball player (1903–1941).

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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