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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Louis or Louie?

60 replies

magbags · 10/06/2009 14:33

We are considering the boys name Louie.

I know that the traditional spelling is Louis but I've heard some discussion on previous threads about incorrect pronunciation of this (as in Loo-is) which I would find really annoying.

To avoid this issue we are considering using the more intuitive (imo) spelling of Louie, which is written as you would say it, Loo-ee.

Is this a legitemate alternative way to spell the name? Opinions please!

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rubyslippers · 10/06/2009 14:34

Louis

shootfromthehip · 10/06/2009 14:34

Louis.

franke · 10/06/2009 14:35

I always think of Louie as being short for Louise. So would go for Louis.

Wags · 10/06/2009 14:36

I would always look at Louis and pronounce it Louie. In fact a friend of mine has called her DS Lewis but she spelt it Louis. He isn't school age yet but already most people spell it Lewis and I think she realises it was a bit of a mistake.

Bonneville · 10/06/2009 14:37

Louis. Louie not a proper spelling.

sazzlelou · 10/06/2009 14:37

Louis

modernart · 10/06/2009 14:38

Louis

callalilies · 10/06/2009 14:38

Louis definitely

Original poster
magbags · 10/06/2009 15:05

Maybe I'm being really thick (probably) but I would see Louis and say Loo-is...or in the past I would have! Would most people, like Wags, see the name written and say Loo-ee?

OP posts:
callalilies · 10/06/2009 15:11

I'd always pronounce Lewis as Loo-is and Louis as Lou-ee. Think most people are the same.

gladders · 10/06/2009 16:49

Louis

jellybeans · 10/06/2009 16:56

I like Louie as am never sure whether Louis is a Loo-iss or loo-ee as know of both these for the Louis spelling.

daizydoo · 10/06/2009 16:59

If you call your child Louis, I think you'll find a lot of people will spell it Louie...

lotspot · 10/06/2009 20:21

i know a Louis pronounced Loo-ee and pretty much everyone pronounces it Loo-ee when seeing it written down!

Also, everyone writes it Louis without asking so i would say go with Louis - Louie looks wrong to me

Tambajam · 10/06/2009 20:27

We have one of each at school. I have no problem with Louie. I really don't like the Lewis pronounciation and I think it solves the problem quite neatly.

Joycey29 · 10/06/2009 20:29

Go for Louis - Louie just looks like you don't know the correct way to spell it!
Have both in the class and much prefer Louis!

thisisyesterday · 10/06/2009 20:33

i prefer Louis myself. don't know why, just like it better.

sophiesmummie · 10/06/2009 21:51

In some languages, German for example, Louis is pronounced Loo-is.

Louie avoids any doubt about its pronounciation, so I would go for that spelling.

KittyWalker · 10/06/2009 21:52

Louis

Ronaldinhio · 10/06/2009 21:53

louis

v nice btw imho

Tidey · 10/06/2009 21:54

I would automatically pronounce Louis in the correct way. If people want the name Lewis, they normally spell it that way, don't they?

paisleyleaf · 10/06/2009 21:55

I think the same as Joycey: Louis
or it looks like you don't know how to spell it.

ravenAK · 10/06/2009 21:57

Louis is much more traditional.

A mate of mine called her ds (now late teens) Louie to avoid mispronunciation - ie. people calling him Lewis.

He's changed the spelling to Louis (mostly he answers to Lou) because he thinks Louie is a 'little boy's name'.

I'm inclined to agree with him tbh - it's a much more usual name than it was then & people do know how it's pronounced.

QueenofSpleen · 10/06/2009 23:10

Louis any other spelling looks daft.

Original poster
magbags · 11/06/2009 19:30

Thanks for all the feedback so far on which spelling to go for. Have been reading all your opinions out to dh to help us decide!

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