Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

How would you pronounce “Louis”?

132 replies

MrsW32 · 10/11/2024 13:19

We are really feeling the name Louis for our little boy. However we wanted a name that wouldn’t cause any confusion when pronouncing it due to me having a life long issue with my own name being constantly mispronounced and I don’t want to inflict that on him. But we really love Louis and to pronounce it as “Louie” but I really don’t like the spelling Louie.

We have 2 other names in the mix Jude and Leo which we both love and will not have the above issue, but just don’t have the edge that Louis does!

I’ve included a poll too 😅

Any opinions?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
museumum · 10/11/2024 16:20

We have a Louis and when people read it out they almost always say loo-ee as intended. But when they hear loo-ee they very often write down Louie so it’s not entirely simple.

Mlanket · 10/11/2024 16:16

😆

DelphineFox · 10/11/2024 16:11

Mlanket · 10/11/2024 14:52

@Littlemissgobby how do you pronounce Margot?

Probably pronounces ballet as "balette" and café as "caiffe" as they aren't French.

twentysevendresses · 10/11/2024 15:36

Loo-i (lewi).

The only time I'd say it any differently would be if it were spelt Lewis - when I'd pronounce it Loo-ISS (lewISS)

Louis or Louie I would say it with the ISS sound on the end.

Flatulence · 10/11/2024 15:29

Lou-ee in the UK.

Lou-iss in the USA.

Anywhere in a UK setting I'd automatically assume 'Louis' was pronounced 'lou-ee' and would only use the US pronunciation if corrected.

It's a French name so its traditional pronunciation is with an -ee ending.

godmum56 · 10/11/2024 15:26

One thing you can guarantee is that if there are two ways to pronounce something people will choose the wrong one. The other thing you can guarantee is that any control over what your child is called will be fleeting...as soon as they can, they will choose for themselves.

PurpleChrayn · 10/11/2024 15:22

Loo-ee.

It's so popular at the moment.

I'm not even sure why, as it's so toilety.

SabrinaCarpentersCeilingFan · 10/11/2024 15:16

It's my brothers name.

There's no other way to pronounce it aside from 'lou-ee'

user2848502016 · 10/11/2024 15:15

I think I'd have to ask
I have heard it pronounced like Louie and Lewis so could be either

GrumpyDullard · 10/11/2024 15:15

I have a Louis, named after Armstrong. In my mind, because of the Armstrong origin, the "Lewis" pronunciation is his proper name and the "Lou-ee" pronunciation is more like a nick name. But I only ever call him "Lou-ee". If anyone asks how to pronounce it, I say either way. Which confuses them.

I was told that, when an Armstrong biographer was asked about the pronunciation, he said "No one called him Lou-ee, except 90% of his fans and 3 of his wives!"

Morven7 · 10/11/2024 15:14

Lou_ ee

NeedSomeComfy · 10/11/2024 15:09

A question for all those saying 'The French way ie the correct way'. The French pronunciation would put the emphasis on the final syllable, ie lou-IE. Whereas the anglicised version of the French name as far as I always hear it is pronounced LOU-ie with the emphasis on the first syllable. So would you actually pronounce it the French way, or the anglo-french way?

Jessie1259 · 10/11/2024 15:06

I know a Spanish Lou - eess just to confuse things further. It's definitely a name where half the time people will pronounce it wrongly though.

DappledThings · 10/11/2024 15:06

DanceMumTaxi · 10/11/2024 14:56

I’ve taught kids who pronounce it both ways. It’s such a confusing name. My default is loo-ee and I really find it hard to remember when a child pronounces it as Lewis. I just have a mental block for some reason.

It's a mental block because your brain knows anyone trying to convince you Louis is pronounced Lewis is wrong.

NewGreenDuck · 10/11/2024 15:06

Mumofteenandtween · 10/11/2024 14:57

I remember Margot from the Chalet School and discovering that her name wasn’t “Mar-got”. I had read many many of the books before I did though. 😂

We won’t even mention the fact that I mis-read Hermione as Hermoine for years of Jilly Cooper and Harry Potter before Miss Granger explained to Viktor Krum how to pronounce her name.

Show quote history

There is a famous story about Lady Asquith telling Jean Harlow that the t in her name, Margot, was silent as in Jean Harlot.

maryj1996 · 10/11/2024 15:06

There are enough famous Louis’s (prince, theroux, tomlinson etc) that I think most people will know the correct pronunciation.

I like it … more unique and classic than Leo or Jude.

yikesanotherbooboo · 10/11/2024 15:04

Loo eee
This is the usual accepted pronunciation. I have met lots of them all pronounced in this way although I am aware from mn that Lewis is a possible version of. I associate the latter choice with the US because of St. Louis .

Clearinguptheclutter · 10/11/2024 15:04

All the ones I know pronounce it Loo-ee

Lewis otoh is pronounced like Lewis

BeeDavis · 10/11/2024 15:01

My little boy is called Louis and we pronounce it Loo-ee.. weird that one of our other names was Jude 😂 Leo is an extremely popular name so I would avoid that!

kitsuneghost · 10/11/2024 15:00

Louis is always loo-ee
The s is only pronounced if you add an s. Louise
Loo-is is spelled Lewis

ThePoshUns · 10/11/2024 14:58

There is only one way to say Louis?

Littlemissgobby · 10/11/2024 14:57

ginasevern · 10/11/2024 14:53

But surely you've heard of William and Kate's son. Do you insist on calling him Prince Lewis because a member of the royal family hasn't corrected you?

Show quote history

I call him louie as that's what the media said it was pronounced as but looking on paper I prob would say Louis until otherwise. Actually had forgotten about him

Mumofteenandtween · 10/11/2024 14:57

Mlanket · 10/11/2024 14:52

@Littlemissgobby how do you pronounce Margot?

I remember Margot from the Chalet School and discovering that her name wasn’t “Mar-got”. I had read many many of the books before I did though. 😂

We won’t even mention the fact that I mis-read Hermione as Hermoine for years of Jilly Cooper and Harry Potter before Miss Granger explained to Viktor Krum how to pronounce her name.

DanceMumTaxi · 10/11/2024 14:56

I’ve taught kids who pronounce it both ways. It’s such a confusing name. My default is loo-ee and I really find it hard to remember when a child pronounces it as Lewis. I just have a mental block for some reason.

ginasevern · 10/11/2024 14:55

Mlanket · 10/11/2024 14:52

@Littlemissgobby how do you pronounce Margot?

Quite!