Louisa
Top 1000
About Louisa
Louisa, a quaint but strong vintage name, might feel fresher in English speaking countries than old favorite Louise, just as Diana and Julia have more energy than Diane and Julie at the moment. Part of this might just be that Louisa has never been so popular as Louise, so it makes a familiar but distinctive option alongside Eloise, Lucy, Luna, and Lucia.
Very popular in the eighteenth century, Louisa was finally toppled at the end of the nineteenth by the French form Louise, which was a top name through the first quarter of the 20th century. Both derived from Ludwig, via Louis, the name has the powerful meaning "renowned warrior", making it a great contender for a spirited girl.
Familiar in France and the UK, Louisa re-entered the US Top 1000 in 2014 after a 45 year absence and a current year saw it rank in the latter end of the charts, given to around 380 babies. In comparison, Louise was given to more than 550 babies and ranked just outside the Top 500.
Louisa has many literary associations, including Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women and Little Men; two Charles Dickens novels, Hard Times and Dombey & Sons; and two novels by Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion.
Louisa is a First Lady name, being the wife of President John Quincy Adams. One of Meryl Streep's daughters is named Louisa.
Some international variations: Luisa, Lovisa, Ludovica, and Luigia. Nicknames include Lou, Lu, Lulu, Ouida, and Ouisa.
Pronounced loo-EE-zuh.
As of October 2026, Louisa ranked #697 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #119 in 1881, Nameberry popularity #117.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #955 | 281 | 157.3 |
| 2015 | #907 | 303 | 169.7 |
| 2016 | #828 | 347 | 195.8 |
| 2017 | #752 | 373 | 216 |
| 2018 | #731 | 386 | 226.9 |
| 2019 | #688 | 422 | 251.4 |
| 2020 | #725 | 383 | 236.9 |
| 2021 | #687 | 424 | 258.4 |
| 2022 | #825 | 340 | 207.3 |
| 2023 | #807 | 346 | 215.6 |
| 2024 | #733 | 383 | 236.4 |
| 2025 | #697 | 407 | 253.2 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Louisa.
- Louise
- Margaret
- Ruth
- Josephine
- Frances
- Beatrice
- Edith
- Georgianna
- Harriet
- Miriam
- Susannah
- Jane
- Esther
- Philippa
- Helen
- Dorothy
- Matilda
- Greta
- Felicity
- Fiona
Louisa on lists
Famous Louisas
- Louisa Ulrika of Prussia
Queen consort of Adolf Frederick of Sweden
- Louisa Maria Teresa Stuart
disputed Princess Royal, daughter of King James II and VII of Great Britain
- Louisa Anne
Princess of Great Britain; granddaughter of King George II; sister of George III
- Louisa May Alcott
American novelist
- Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams
U.S. First Lady as wife of President John Quincy Adams
- Louisa Catherine Adams
daughter of John Quincy Adams
- Louisa Ann Swain
first woman to legally vote in the United States
- (Rachel) Louisa Krause
American actress
- Louisa Johnson
English pop singer
- Louisa Rose "Foxes" Allen
English singer
- Louisa Connolly
Burnham, English actress
- Louisa Claire Lytton
English actress
- Louisa Nécib
French footballer
- Louisa Gummer
daughter of American actress Meryl Streep
Louisa in pop culture
- Louisa von Trapp
character in "The Sound of Music"
- Louisa Norton
character in 1950 film "Louisa"
- Louisa
main character in the book "Vietnam Farm"
- Louisa Fenn
character on TV series Boston Public
- Louisa "Ouiser" Boudreaux
character in play/film "Steel Magnolias"
- Louisa Reed Conroy
character from "This Golden Land," by Barbara Wood
- Louisa "Lou" Clark
main character in "Me Before You," by Jojo Moyes
- Louisa Glasson
character on British TV show "Doc Martin"
- Louisa
character in novel "The Nest" by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
- "Louisa"
song by Lord Huron