Lu
Lu was the 12652nd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 1954, when it ranked 442nd with 394 babies. More babies were named Lu in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Lou) short form of Louis or Louise · English, French, Germanic
- Rank in 2025
- #12,652 girls, up 285 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 7girls
- Girls and boys
- 76% girls, 24% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1954394 babies
- Total since 1880
- 4,081babies recorded
What does the name Lu mean?
Lu is a spelling of Lou, pronounced the same way, so it shares Lou's meaning and origin.
Lou is a short form of Louis or Lewis for men and of Louise, Louisa or Lucille for women. Louis is a Germanic name from hlūd, "loud, famous", and wīg, "battle", and Louise is its feminine. DMNES records Louis as the name of many Frankish and French kings. In the US Lou has been given to both sexes and was most common as a first name in the mid-20th century.
hlūd (Old High German, “loud, famous”)wīg (Old High German / Old English, “battle”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Louis, Louise, Lewis, Louie, Lula.
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Lou', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Louis', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wikipedia, 'Lou (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Lu popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #12,652 | — | 7 | — |
| 2020 | #12,937 | #11,446 | 7 | 6 |
| 2010 | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | #7,134 | — | 9 | — |
| 1970 | #3,512 | — | 18 | — |
| 1960 | #788 | — | 169 | — |
| 1950 | #1,442 | — | 41 | — |
| 1940 | #1,366 | — | 31 | — |
| 1930 | #2,499 | — | 13 | — |
| 1920 | #2,817 | — | 12 | — |
| 1910 | #2,302 | — | 6 | — |
| 1900 | #1,381 | — | 9 | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Lu, counting every spelling?
Lu is a spelling of Lou, a name family that had 72 girls in 2025 across its spellings. Together these spellings went to 72 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lou | 65 | #2,674 | 321 |
| Lu | 7 | #12,652 | 35 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Lu?
7 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Lu (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Lu born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 1,224 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Lu.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Lu?
About 2,700 people born in the US named Lu are alive today, with a median age of 70; half are between 65 and 72. That makes Lu a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Lu: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Lu, they share its era and feel.
Lu is also a nickname for Lucy, Lucia, Lucille and Luella.
Questions about the name Lu
What does Lu mean?
Lu is a spelling of Lou, which means “short form of Louis or Louise” (English, French, Germanic origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Lu?
Lu was the 12652nd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 1954, when it ranked 442nd with 394 babies. More babies were named Lu in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Lu a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 76% girls, 24% boys given the name Lu in the US.