Luis is a masculine given name of Spanish origin, derived from the Roman family name Lucius. The name Lucius is believed to have been derived from the Latin word "lux," which means light. Therefore, the name Luis can be translated as "light" or "famous warrior." The name has also been associated with the Roman god Lupercus, who was a protector of shepherds and their flocks.
The use of the name Luis dates back to ancient Roman times, where it was borne by several notable individuals, including Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the last king of Rome, and Lucius Annaeus Seneca, a prominent Roman Stoic philosopher. The name also appears in various forms throughout history, such as Louis in French, Ludwig in German, and Luis in Spanish.
Today, Luis is widely used as a given name across many different cultures and languages. Some famous individuals with the name Luis include Luis Alberto Spillimbergo, an Argentine poet and diplomat, Luis Barragán, a Mexican architect known for his modernist buildings, and Luis Figo, a Portuguese footballer who played for some of the world's top football clubs.
Overall, the name Luis has a rich history and a meaningful origin that is deeply rooted in Roman culture. Its association with light and warrior status makes it a strong and distinctive choice for a given name.
The name Luis experienced a significant increase in popularity over the years, with a notable rise starting around 1954 and peaking between 1970 to 1980, reaching its highest point in 1989 with 5797 births. After this peak, the number of births with the name Luis began to decline steadily, falling below 3000 births per year from around 2016 onwards, and dipping as low as 2700 births in 2020 before slightly rebounding to 2948 births in 2022. Overall, the name Luis has been quite popular throughout history, with a total of 287626 births recorded between 1880 and 2023.