Lou is a unisex name of French origin. It is derived from the French word "loup," which means "wolf." The name Lou has been used in various forms throughout history, including Louis for men and Louise for women.
In France, Lou has traditionally been more popular as a male name than a female one. However, in recent years, it has gained popularity among parents choosing names for their daughters as well. This shift can be attributed to the name's simplicity and versatility - it works well as both a standalone given name and as a nickname for longer names like Louisiana or Louise.
The name Lou has been carried by several notable figures throughout history. For example, Louis XIV was the king of France from 1643 until his death in 1715, earning him the nickname "the Sun King." On the other hand, Louise Brooks was an American actress famous for her roles in silent films during the 1920s.
Today, Lou continues to be a popular choice among parents looking for unique yet timeless names for their children. Its meaning - wolf - adds an element of wildness and strength that some find appealing. Whether used as a given name or nickname, Lou remains a strong and distinctive option with deep historical roots.
The name Lou has seen significant fluctuations in popularity over the years. It was quite popular in the early 1900s with a peak of 58 births in 1922 and remained relatively stable until the late 1940s when it began to decline steadily. The lowest point was reached in the mid-1970s with as few as 10 births per year between 1972 and 1976. Since then, Lou has seen a resurgence in popularity, with a notable increase starting from the late 1990s and reaching a new peak in recent years, particularly in 2020 (58 births) and 2021-2022 (74 births each year). Overall, there have been a total of 3936 births with the name Lou from 1880 to 2023.