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Baby names

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

Original poster

Louis or Louie

66 replies

Ineedadviceonnames · 25/07/2025 18:10

Which spelling for a Louis/Louie (in the UK)?

I like the traditional spelling but I also like the fact the alternative is more phonetic in the English language. I would probably lean towards the traditional but my partner prefers the version ending in E. I have mostly chosen the name so I'm leaning towards my partner choosing the spelling.

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LittleBearPad · 26/07/2025 08:01

Please spell it properly OP. He’s not a duckling

cremedelacraps · 26/07/2025 07:27

Louis for me is pronounced Loo- is.

But we don't have a Prince Lewis or say Lewis Vuitton?

cremedelacraps · 26/07/2025 07:25

Louis

Limonades · 26/07/2025 07:23

2chocolateoranges · 25/07/2025 22:34

Louis for me is pronounced Loo- is.

whereas Louie is pronounced Loo-ee.

Exactly this.

Unless you’re French and understand how their pronunciation works, it’s pronounced phonetically as Lou-is.

Limonades · 26/07/2025 07:21

user1492757084 · 26/07/2025 03:24

If you are British or Australian or European - Louis.
Always pronounced Loo-ee. Everyone knows that!

If you are American - Louis Armstrong spelt his name - Louis.

If you want the sound of Loo-iss use Lewis.

Louie as a full name seems lazy and uneducated.

Louis Armstrong is known as Lou-is in the USA and the Ciry of St Louis in Missouri is also pronounced Lou-is.

In Germany, Holland etc Louis is pronounced Lou-is too!

user1492757084 · 26/07/2025 03:24

If you are British or Australian or European - Louis.
Always pronounced Loo-ee. Everyone knows that!

If you are American - Louis Armstrong spelt his name - Louis.

If you want the sound of Loo-iss use Lewis.

Louie as a full name seems lazy and uneducated.

PeonyBulb · 26/07/2025 03:23

Louis is the correct way

Louie is the same as calling your child Porsche instead of Portia. It’s just embarrassingly wrong.

PrincessOfPreschool · 25/07/2025 22:39

Had a few where I work and all been Louie. I personally prefer Louis but I know many people who would mis-pronounce it if they have no knowledge it's a French name and how French pronunciation works.

2chocolateoranges · 25/07/2025 22:34

Louis for me is pronounced Loo- is.

whereas Louie is pronounced Loo-ee.

Bengenderson · 25/07/2025 22:31

Louie seems to have overtaken Louis in the UK when looking at the name charts.

So I would probably choose it on that basis, makes it easier to have the most common spelling of something.

LucasBuck · 25/07/2025 22:27

Louis makes me think of Kings and the long rich history of the name in France. Louie makes me think of Disney and the cartoon duck and seems quite faddy. It’s strange how two different spellings of the same name give completely different images - personally I much prefer the look of Louis.

Cinaferna · 25/07/2025 21:58

Cyclistmumgrandma · 25/07/2025 21:42

True, however Louis Armstrong pronounced his name Lewis. Unfortunately for him everyone else pronounced it correctly so he had to get used to it!

Show quote history

They can be interchangeable. As you say, Louis Armstrong pronounced his own name Lewis. I know several boys called Louis whose name is pronounced Lewis.

RelativelyQuietNow · 25/07/2025 21:56

softlyfallsthesnow · 25/07/2025 18:41

That's all kinds of wrong.
Louis isn't pronounced Lewis so you don't need an alternative.
Louis in answer to OP.

Show quote history

Louis is pronounced ‘LouiS’ ( Lewis) in some cases. I've taught many!

Families I've know have sometimes used it to reflect mum’s name, Louise.

Oxford Dictionary shows it as both. https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/louis

TheyFuckYouUpYourMamAndDad · 25/07/2025 21:49

Cinaferna · 25/07/2025 18:34

Louis (Pronounced Lewis) with Louie as a nn. Then he has options. It's a great name.

Huh? 🤯 Don’t be ridiculous.

TheyFuckYouUpYourMamAndDad · 25/07/2025 21:46

RachelsPeeves · 25/07/2025 18:33

Louis and, definitely not like a kid at school called Loui 🙈

I had a Lewy (with a y) in my class last year 😬

Cyclistmumgrandma · 25/07/2025 21:42

sanityisamyth · 25/07/2025 21:36

They're pronounced the same. Louis is (should!) never be pronounced Lewis. That’s Lewis!

True, however Louis Armstrong pronounced his name Lewis. Unfortunately for him everyone else pronounced it correctly so he had to get used to it!

sanityisamyth · 25/07/2025 21:36

They're pronounced the same. Louis is (should!) never be pronounced Lewis. That’s Lewis!

JillyGiraffe · 25/07/2025 21:34

Prince Louis is pronounced Louie not Lewis! Louis will be the default spelling, and I think looks nicer too.

HugoYorway · 25/07/2025 20:45

Louis.

MissAvainthesun · 25/07/2025 20:17

I had a Louis…lovely kind lad (the kid and Dad wanted me to call him ‘Louie’ but Mum insisted ‘Lewis’ she made formal complaints against me and several other teachers because apparently we didn’t respect her enough to call her son the right name 🙄 luckily I had a Headteacher with common sense and advised the parents to sort the pronunciation issue out at home first before complaining.

Osmosisfreight · 25/07/2025 20:08

What about Lewee? 😂

Ddakji · 25/07/2025 20:06

I don’t mind either. MN of course will say Louis because they think that only an oik would use Louie.

newrubylane · 25/07/2025 20:06

My son is a Lewis - I chose the spelling for clarity, as Louis can go either way. So in your shoes I would pick Louie, even though it's less classic. I also know a Loui.

Limonades · 25/07/2025 20:03

Louie has overtaken the Louis spelling in the UK, I think. Makes the pronunciation much easier!

Aligirlbear · 25/07/2025 20:02

Louis . Most people will automatically spell it this way so if you go with the e your poor DS will spend his life having to correct people ! Louie with an e will also have connotations with Daffy Duck’s nephews - a helpful lead in for playground teasing !

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