Lou
#2,645 for girls in 2025, 65 births · #1,919 for boys in 2025, 81 births
Given to girls 89.3% of the time
Showing
- Peak · girls
- 1880 · 131 births
- Debut · girls
- 131 births
- In top 100 · girls
- neverof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 34,109since 1880
Lou over time
girlsboys
Rank within each sex, plotted together. Click any year to open it.
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #2,645 | 65 | #1,919 | 81 |
| 2024 | #2,508 | 71 | #2,120 | 70 |
| 2023 | #2,555 | 69 | #2,032 | 74 |
| 2022 | #2,756 | 62 | #2,000 | 76 |
| 2021 | #3,037 | 54 | #2,277 | 61 |
| 2020 | #3,498 | 43 | #2,323 | 58 |
| 2019 | #3,718 | 40 | #2,808 | 44 |
| 2018 | #3,789 | 39 | #3,446 | 32 |
| 2017 | #4,576 | 30 | #3,123 | 37 |
| 2016 | #4,157 | 35 | #2,689 | 45 |
| 2015 | #4,725 | 29 | #3,022 | 38 |
| 2014 | #5,797 | 22 | #3,787 | 27 |
| 2013 | #7,748 | 15 | #4,064 | 24 |
| 2012 | #6,872 | 18 | #5,035 | 18 |
| 2011 | #7,436 | 16 | #3,792 | 27 |
| 2010 | #9,790 | 11 | #5,478 | 16 |
| 2009 | #17,294 | 5 | #4,429 | 22 |
| 2008 | #15,405 | 6 | #6,393 | 13 |
| 2007 | #15,491 | 6 | #6,262 | 13 |
| 2006 | #11,417 | 9 | #4,520 | 20 |
| 2005 | #7,891 | 14 | #4,198 | 21 |
| 2004 | #9,892 | 10 | #5,007 | 16 |
| 2003 | #9,671 | 10 | #6,715 | 10 |
| 2002 | #11,108 | 8 | #5,395 | 13 |
| 2001 | #11,020 | 8 | #3,974 | 20 |
| 2000 | #9,874 | 9 | #5,920 | 11 |
| 1999 | #12,688 | 6 | #7,139 | 8 |
| 1998 | #10,122 | 8 | #5,466 | 11 |
| 1997 | #10,836 | 7 | #4,451 | 14 |
| 1996 | — | #4,396 | 14 | |
| 1995 | — | #4,508 | 13 | |
| 1994 | #10,569 | 7 | #3,326 | 20 |
| 1993 | #8,052 | 10 | #4,227 | 14 |
| 1992 | #8,734 | 9 | #3,338 | 19 |
| 1991 | #11,509 | 6 | #2,753 | 24 |
| 1990 | #6,867 | 12 | #2,695 | 24 |
| 1989 | #6,160 | 13 | #3,205 | 18 |
| 1988 | #6,666 | 11 | #4,450 | 10 |
| 1987 | #5,613 | 13 | #3,072 | 16 |
| 1986 | #5,459 | 13 | #3,882 | 11 |
| 1985 | #5,678 | 12 | #2,598 | 19 |
| 1984 | #3,990 | 19 | #2,529 | 19 |
| 1983 | #4,109 | 18 | #3,230 | 13 |
| 1982 | #3,017 | 29 | #2,269 | 22 |
| 1981 | #2,928 | 30 | #2,779 | 16 |
| 1980 | #3,992 | 19 | #2,213 | 23 |
| 1979 | #2,343 | 40 | #2,048 | 25 |
| 1978 | #2,350 | 38 | #1,965 | 25 |
| 1977 | #2,162 | 43 | #2,556 | 17 |
| 1976 | #1,883 | 48 | #2,245 | 20 |
| 1975 | #1,854 | 49 | #2,134 | 21 |
| 1974 | #1,532 | 63 | #2,199 | 19 |
| 1973 | #1,175 | 92 | #1,612 | 29 |
| 1972 | #1,105 | 101 | #1,771 | 25 |
| 1971 | #951 | 134 | #1,378 | 38 |
| 1970 | #848 | 159 | #1,314 | 40 |
| 1969 | #801 | 165 | #1,492 | 29 |
| 1968 | #767 | 169 | #1,366 | 32 |
| 1967 | #753 | 171 | #1,411 | 29 |
| 1966 | #724 | 186 | #1,194 | 39 |
| 1965 | #657 | 225 | #1,335 | 33 |
| 1964 | #598 | 277 | #1,096 | 48 |
| 1963 | #496 | 382 | #1,255 | 38 |
| 1962 | #487 | 396 | #1,121 | 47 |
| 1961 | #447 | 473 | #1,059 | 54 |
| 1960 | #388 | 593 | #944 | 64 |
| 1959 | #358 | 706 | #1,019 | 57 |
| 1958 | #314 | 851 | #928 | 67 |
| 1957 | #309 | 884 | #889 | 72 |
| 1956 | #258 | 1,066 | #1,019 | 54 |
| 1955 | #232 | 1,225 | #1,075 | 49 |
| 1954 | #204 | 1,495 | #1,039 | 52 |
| 1953 | #208 | 1,434 | #1,245 | 36 |
| 1952 | #345 | 569 | #1,166 | 40 |
| 1951 | #391 | 440 | #943 | 55 |
| 1950 | #395 | 414 | #1,289 | 31 |
| 1949 | #374 | 441 | #1,205 | 35 |
| 1948 | #379 | 439 | #1,145 | 39 |
| 1947 | #355 | 510 | #938 | 56 |
| 1946 | #343 | 478 | #980 | 47 |
| 1945 | #341 | 399 | #927 | 48 |
| 1944 | #314 | 463 | #1,070 | 38 |
| 1943 | #330 | 456 | #1,088 | 39 |
| 1942 | #293 | 536 | #970 | 47 |
| 1941 | #286 | 506 | #1,040 | 39 |
| 1940 | #281 | 494 | #1,031 | 39 |
| 1939 | #277 | 502 | #904 | 47 |
| 1938 | #274 | 532 | #1,199 | 30 |
| 1937 | #269 | 539 | #1,313 | 26 |
| 1936 | #271 | 506 | #1,296 | 26 |
| 1935 | #269 | 522 | #1,247 | 29 |
| 1934 | #263 | 559 | #1,386 | 24 |
| 1933 | #265 | 534 | #1,051 | 38 |
| 1932 | #270 | 540 | #980 | 45 |
| 1931 | #290 | 463 | #1,065 | 40 |
| 1930 | #306 | 468 | #1,368 | 28 |
| 1929 | #308 | 474 | #1,339 | 28 |
| 1928 | #320 | 425 | #1,041 | 44 |
| 1927 | #303 | 489 | #1,178 | 37 |
| 1926 | #323 | 417 | #1,353 | 29 |
| 1925 | #337 | 395 | #1,091 | 41 |
| 1924 | #348 | 381 | #1,187 | 37 |
| 1923 | #356 | 343 | #1,213 | 35 |
| 1922 | #347 | 350 | #1,120 | 40 |
| 1921 | #377 | 320 | #1,412 | 28 |
| 1920 | #356 | 336 | #1,252 | 33 |
| 1919 | #361 | 313 | #1,624 | 21 |
| 1918 | #335 | 371 | #1,256 | 31 |
| 1917 | #338 | 338 | #964 | 45 |
| 1916 | #351 | 308 | #1,028 | 39 |
| 1915 | #353 | 285 | #1,159 | 31 |
| 1914 | #348 | 227 | #884 | 38 |
| 1913 | #342 | 199 | #1,256 | 17 |
| 1912 | #315 | 212 | #970 | 22 |
| 1911 | #316 | 153 | #1,190 | 9 |
| 1910 | #317 | 144 | #707 | 18 |
| 1909 | #307 | 140 | — | |
| 1908 | #292 | 147 | #685 | 15 |
| 1907 | #312 | 124 | #778 | 12 |
| 1906 | #334 | 100 | — | |
| 1905 | #276 | 143 | #666 | 13 |
| 1904 | #297 | 117 | #966 | 7 |
| 1903 | #266 | 133 | #696 | 11 |
| 1902 | #285 | 121 | #1,013 | 6 |
| 1901 | #304 | 96 | #858 | 7 |
| 1900 | #274 | 140 | #699 | 13 |
| 1899 | #251 | 125 | #548 | 13 |
| 1898 | #236 | 156 | #701 | 10 |
| 1897 | #267 | 114 | #584 | 13 |
| 1896 | #245 | 130 | #722 | 10 |
| 1895 | #252 | 125 | #738 | 9 |
| 1894 | #249 | 118 | #594 | 12 |
| 1893 | #222 | 137 | #650 | 10 |
| 1892 | #222 | 137 | #748 | 9 |
| 1891 | #231 | 109 | #700 | 8 |
| 1890 | #210 | 132 | #667 | 9 |
| 1889 | #210 | 120 | #446 | 17 |
| 1888 | #172 | 169 | #648 | 10 |
| 1887 | #167 | 147 | #583 | 10 |
| 1886 | #178 | 129 | #647 | 9 |
| 1885 | #158 | 135 | #521 | 13 |
| 1884 | #145 | 146 | #613 | 10 |
| 1883 | #136 | 142 | #556 | 11 |
| 1882 | #137 | 131 | #611 | 10 |
| 1881 | #137 | 114 | #442 | 15 |
| 1880 | #122 | 131 | #482 | 14 |
First appearance
1880
In the first year the SSA published name data, Lou was already there! It came in at #122, and was given to 131 baby girls.
Quietest stretch: 1995–1996, when fewer than 5 girls a year got the name.
Where Lou is popular in 1946
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
Top states · girls
- Louisiana#176 · 1 in 865
- Oklahoma#176 · 1 in 1,035
- Mississippi#215 · 1 in 1,154
- Kentucky#216 · 1 in 1,474
- Tennessee#222 · 1 in 1,443
Best ever in a state: #91 in Utah, 1929.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | #176 | 35 | 1 in 865 |
| Oklahoma | #176 | 21 | 1 in 1,035 |
| Mississippi | #215 | 23 | 1 in 1,154 |
| Kentucky | #216 | 22 | 1 in 1,474 |
| Tennessee | #222 | 25 | 1 in 1,443 |
| Arkansas | #227 | 16 | 1 in 1,318 |
| Texas | #252 | 56 | 1 in 1,483 |
| Alabama | #255 | 21 | 1 in 1,687 |
| Colorado | #257 | 7 | 1 in 1,817 |
| South Carolina | #259 | 15 | 1 in 1,718 |
| North Carolina | #261 | 25 | 1 in 1,866 |
| Arizona | #267 | 5 | 1 in 1,439 |
| West Virginia | #273 | 10 | 1 in 2,186 |
| Missouri | #274 | 14 | 1 in 2,620 |
| Florida | #279 | 12 | 1 in 2,031 |
| Indiana | #285 | 13 | 1 in 2,898 |
| Wisconsin | #289 | 9 | 1 in 3,645 |
| Virginia | #307 | 11 | 1 in 2,937 |
| Minnesota | #316 | 8 | 1 in 3,705 |
| Ohio | #365 | 17 | 1 in 4,522 |
| Georgia | #374 | 11 | 1 in 3,592 |
| Michigan | #404 | 11 | 1 in 5,645 |
| California | #428 | 23 | 1 in 4,317 |
| Illinois | #491 | 11 | 1 in 7,105 |
| Pennsylvania | #550 | 9 | 1 in 11,028 |
| New York | #596 | 12 | 1 in 11,044 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Connecticut | — | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| Idaho | — | — | — |
| Iowa | — | — | — |
| Kansas | — | — | — |
| Maine | — | — | — |
| Maryland | — | — | — |
| Massachusetts | — | — | — |
| Montana | — | — | — |
| Nebraska | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| New Jersey | — | — | — |
| New Mexico | — | — | — |
| North Dakota | — | — | — |
| Oregon | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — |
| South Dakota | — | — | — |
| Utah | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
| Washington | — | — | — |
| Wyoming | — | — | — |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Lou
Momentum · girls
Rising
- 137 spots since 2024 (#2,508 → #2,645)
- 853 spots since 2020 (#3,498 → #2,645)
- 2,080 spots since 2015 (#4,725 → #2,645)
- Biggest jump: 137 spots in 1953 (#345 → #208)
- Biggest drop: 154 spots in 1972 (#951 → #1,105)
Rise & fade · girls
Peaked on debut
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1880 at #122 (131 births)
- Births halved by 1974, 94 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 1,000 for 92 yrs
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: never
- Top 1,000: 92 yrs · run 1880–1971
Share of babies · girls
1 in 695
- Highest: 1 in 695 girls born in 1880 were named Lou (0.14%)
- Latest: 1 in 24,727 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
Era · girls
The 1950s
- 26.6% of all girls named Lou (9,084) were born in this decade
Girls or boys?
Flipped in 2025
- Mostly girls until 2024, mostly boys since
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 1,364 | #122 (1880) | #156 |
| 1890s | 1,283 | #210 (1890) | #239 |
| 1900s | 1,261 | #266 (1903) | #295 |
| 1910s | 2,550 | #315 (1912) | #338 |
| 1920s | 3,930 | #303 (1927) | #338 |
| 1930s | 5,165 | #263 (1934) | #275 |
| 1940s | 4,722 | #281 (1940) | #330 |
| 1950s | 9,084 | #204 (1954) | #301 |
| 1960s | 3,037 | #388 (1960) | #612 |
| 1970s | 767 | #848 (1970) | #1,620 |
| 1980s | 177 | #2,928 (1981) | #4,761 |
| 1990s | 65 | #6,867 (1990) | #9,922 |
| 2000s | 85 | #7,891 (2005) | #11,906 |
| 2010s | 255 | #3,718 (2019) | #5,861 |
| 2020s | 364 | #2,508 (2024) | #2,833 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Lou in 1946
girls
#343
478 births · 1 in 3,287 girls
boys
#980
47 births · 1 in 34,554 boys
Top girls' names in 1946
Top boys' names in 1946
More about 1946
girls
1,571,305 girls got a published name in 1946; 1 in 3,287 of them was named Lou, which outranked 94.0% of the 5,686 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.5% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Ranked beside Lou
Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Biggest movers since 1945
Risers
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,624,023 boys got a published name in 1946; 1 in 34,554 of them was named Lou, which outranked 75.6% of the 4,018 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 34.9% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).