Louise is a feminine given name of French origin. It is derived from the male name Louis, which means "renowned warrior" or "famous in battle". The name Louise has been popular throughout history and continues to be widely used today.
The name Louise was first introduced into France through the Capetian dynasty in the Middle Ages. It became particularly prominent during the 15th century when several members of French royalty bore the name, including Louise of Savoy, who was the mother of Francis I, King of France.
Throughout history, there have been many notable women named Louise, such as Louise of Lorraine, who was Queen consort of Spain in the late 16th century, and Louise of Bourbon, who served as regent for her son during his minority. In more recent times, Louise Brooks was an American actress known for her silent films in the 1920s.
The name Louise has also been used in literature and popular culture, most notably as the title character in the Louisa May Alcott novel "Little Women".
Overall, Louise is a classic feminine given name of French origin that has been widely used throughout history. It means "renowned warrior" or "famous in battle", reflecting its strong historical ties to French royalty and nobility.
The name Louise has been a popular choice for parents in the United States over the past century and a half, with a total of 2196 babies named Louise since 1881.
Between 1881 and 1907, there were relatively few babies named Louise each year, with numbers ranging from just 5 to 14 births per year. However, starting in 1908, the popularity of the name began to rise, reaching a peak of 38 births in 1915.
The early 20th century was a period of significant growth for Louise's popularity, with the number of babies named Louise increasing from 26 in 1913 to 59 in 1929. This trend continued throughout the 1930s and 1940s, despite fluctuations in popularity during these decades.
However, after a peak of 35 births in 1940, Louise's popularity began to decline once again. Between 1947 and 1986, there were fewer than 20 babies named Louise each year on average. This period saw several significant low points for the name, including just 6 births in 1971 and only 5 births in both 1978 and 2021.
Despite these declines in popularity over recent decades, Louise has continued to be chosen as a baby girl's name by parents in the United States. In fact, there were 8 babies named Louise in both 2021 and 2022, indicating that this classic name still holds some appeal for modern parents.
Overall, these statistics show that while Louise may have fluctuated in popularity over time, it has remained a beloved choice among American parents throughout history.