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At a Glance: Name: Lewis – Meaning: renowned warrior / famous in war (primary, via Louis); when used to anglicize Llywelyn, the meaning is disputed – Origin: English, from Old French Louis (Frankish); also historically an anglicization of Welsh Llywelyn – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: LOO-iss
Lewis is pronounced LOO-iss, and it comes from the Old French name Louis, rooted in Frankish origins, where it carries the meaning "renowned warrior" or "famous in war." It's also been used historically in English as a way to anglicize the Welsh name Llywelyn, though in that case its meaning isn't settled. Either way, it's a name with real staying power in English-speaking families.
Meaning & Origin of Lewis
Meaning: Renowned warrior / famous in war (primary, via louis); when used to anglicize llywelyn, the meaning is disputed.
Origin: English, from Old French Louis (Frankish); also historically an anglicization of Welsh Llywelyn.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Lewis
Phonetic: LOO-iss IPA: /ˈluːɪs/
Popularity of Lewis
Lewis reached its highest popularity back in 1880, ranking #30 with 517 babies given the name that year. By 2024, it had settled to #433, with 728 babies named Lewis — a name that's held on for well over a century.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Lewis Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Lewis, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Lewis mean?
Renowned warrior / famous in war (primary, via louis); when used to anglicize llywelyn, the meaning is disputed. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Lewis)
How do you pronounce Lewis?
Lewis is pronounced LOO-iss (IPA: /ˈluːɪs/).
Is Lewis a popular name right now?
Lewis peaked at #30 in 1880 and is ranked #433 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Lewis? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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