Lou
/luː/noun
A familiar English form of the given names Louis or Louise.
Did you know?Lou, Louis, Lewis, Ludwig, and Clovis ultimately descend from the same Germanic name, whose Frankish form was borne by the founder of the French royal dynasty.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*Hluþawīgaz
“Famous in battle; composed of elements meaning “fame” and “war.””
5th–6th Century
Frankish
*Hlōdowig
“Frankish form of the Germanic personal name.”
6th Century
Latin
Chlodovechus
“Latinized form used for Clovis I, the Frankish king.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
Hludovicus
“A later Latin form of the same royal name.”
10th–12th Century
Old French
Looïs / Looys
“French developments that became Louis.”
Modern English
English
Lou
“Short form of Louis or Louise, used as a familiar personal name.”