Louisa

Meaning: Famous in battle
Origin: Germanic — Latinate form of Louise

Nicknames: Lou, Louie, Lulu, Lula

Girl's name · #697 in the US (2025) · Comeback

Popularity over time

Louisa was #119 in 1881, slipped to #1914 by 2000, and has climbed back to #697 today. About 22,000 girls have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Louisa is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 31 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Louisa ranks in other countries and regions.

#119 in Austria (2025) · #124 in France (2025) · #140 in Belgium (2025) · #190 in Switzerland (2025) · #245 in Norway (2025) · #359 in Scotland (2025) · #397 in N. Ireland (2025) · #558 in Sweden (2025) · #626 in Netherlands (2025) · #643 in Poland (2025) · #684 in England & Wales (2025) · #750 in Canada (2025) and 4 more.

Famous Louisas

Louisa May Alcott — American novelist (1832–1888)
Louisa Adams — First Lady of the United States from 1825 to 1829 (1775–1852)
Louisa Ulrika of Prussia — Queen of Sweden from 1751 to 1771 (1720–1782)
Louisa Necib Cadamuro — French footballer (born 1987)
Louisa Jacobson — American actress and model (born 1991)

In stories & tradition

Louisa — Operatic character in the opera The Rose of Castille by Michael William Balfe; an innkeeper

What Louisas become

Among 492 notable people named Louisa:

Medical professionals appear 1.95× more often than among typical names — e.g. Louisa Garrett Anderson, British physician and feminist (1873–1943).

Spellings & nicknames

About 110 girls a year are given Lula as their full name and 64 Lou.

Similar names: Louise · Flora · Lottie · Eliza · Estella · Della

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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