Louise
Say it: loo-EEZ/luːˈiːz/
GirlMeans the feminine form of Louis6 letters2 syllables
#213
in Ireland (2025)
#217 with spellings combined
20
babies in 2025
#5
best rank (1980)
11,953
babies since 1964
Up 280
10-year rank change
Louise through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | #217 |
| 2024 | 14 | #298 |
| 2023 | 13 | #295 |
| 2022 | 15 | #288 |
| 2021 | 15 | #287 |
| 2020 | 13 | #313 |
| 2019 | 12 | #344 |
| 2018 | 23 | #210 |
| 2017 | 15 | #301 |
| 2016 | 20 | #236 |
| 2015 | 8 | #497 |
| 2014 | 28 | #189 |
| 2013 | 23 | #232 |
| 2012 | 22 | #237 |
| 2011 | 37 | #162 |
| 2010 | 49 | #128 |
| 2009 | 58 | #115 |
| 2008 | 63 | #104 |
| 2007 | 57 | #103 |
| 2006 | 62 | #92 |
| 2005 | 75 | #76 |
| 2004 | 83 | #69 |
| 2003 | 91 | #56 |
| 2002 | 117 | #48 |
| 2001 | 103 | #50 |
| 2000 | 84 | #53 |
| 1999 | 103 | #45 |
| 1998 | 120 | #36 |
| 1997 | 145 | #43 |
| 1996 | 189 | #32 |
| 1995 | 179 | #33 |
| 1994 | 189 | #27 |
| 1993 | 229 | #23 |
| 1992 | 285 | #19 |
| 1991 | 284 | #18 |
| 1990 | 337 | #15 |
| 1989 | 330 | #16 |
| 1988 | 401 | #13 |
| 1987 | 423 | #13 |
| 1986 | 414 | #13 |
| 1985 | 437 | #12 |
| 1984 | 429 | #15 |
| 1983 | 489 | #10 |
| 1982 | 601 | #7 |
| 1981 | 528 | #10 |
| 1980 | 598 | #5 |
| 1979 | 447 | #16 |
| 1978 | 434 | #13 |
| 1977 | 330 | #23 |
| 1976 | 359 | #21 |
| 1975 | 320 | #24 |
| 1974 | 376 | #19 |
| 1973 | 325 | #23 |
| 1972 | 250 | #33 |
| 1971 | 214 | #38 |
| 1970 | 188 | #42 |
| 1969 | 186 | #44 |
| 1968 | 165 | #45 |
| 1967 | 147 | #48 |
| 1966 | 150 | #46 |
| 1965 | 116 | #57 |
| 1964 | 116 | #54 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Louise mean?
The feminine form of Louis
French, the feminine form of Louis.
Say it right
looEEZ
The story of Louise
Louise is the French feminine form of Louis, a royal name in France for centuries. English speakers have used it since the seventeenth century, and it became a regular choice in Britain and Ireland from the mid-1800s. Across the English-speaking world it is also a very common middle name.
In Ireland Louise had its heyday in the 1970s and 1980s. It reached number 5 in 1980, and its biggest year was 1982, when 601 girls were given the name. It stayed in the top 100 until the 2000s before settling into a quieter place.
It is far from gone, though: 20 girls were named Louise in 2025. In Northern Ireland its best rank in the records was number 33 in 1997.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Louise (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Louise (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Lou
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Louise | 20 | 11,953 |
In Northern Ireland
#334 in 2025 with 4 babies. Best rank #33 (1997); 517 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.