louis for a boy?

[nightowlmostly]

I love the name Louis, but the thing is that our surname is Hamilton, and I'm worried that people will pronounce it wrong and call him Lewis Hamilton! Do you think this is a valid concern or not? i don't hate Lewis Hamilton, but I'm not really a fan and don't want it to seem like we named him after him iyswim?

I hope it's just me being daft, but do you think people will pronounce it wrong very much?

I do think some people will pronounce it Lewis, but you'll just correct them, soon they won't and Louis is a lovely name. Plus, a lot of the time it'll be used without his surname, in conversation and with friends etc. I wouldn't be too put off.

I love Louis.

Love Louis - my fave boys name but had a DD and another DD now on the way too one day maybe!!

I love Louis, but you will get mispronunciation, and said people will think you named him for LH.

I think a lot of non French speakers will pronounce it as Lou - is.

Ok, thanks for your input. Unfortunately, having had an almost 50-50 split on whether it will get mispronounced, I am none the wiser as to whether it's a good idea or not!

I do love it so maybe will just go with it anyway. Depends if anything else comes into my mind, but it's really hard!

Thanks all

What's so bad about a boy having the same name as a cool racing driver?

It's not like you are calling him Peter Andre

I suppose when you put it like that it's not so bad Katie!

I think Louis is a lovely name. The only downside is that there is almost bound to be a stage (one hopes brief, typically occurring in the primary years) when he'll attract lavatorial nns.

lovely name Louis but do think the comparison will be made,when I was having DS1 (36yrs ago) I was desperate to call him Nicolas but DH said on no account where we having a Nickel Arse in the house.
Seriously though if you keep the pronounciation correct with people at all time's you will be fine.

Love Louis-I know one and he is a little charmer. For the pronounciation-could you write it as Louie?

Listen, kids can and will make jokes about anyone. They don't need a name excuse.

Some of the nicknames currently beloved by DS (15) and friends

"Chino Dick"
"Nano Penis"
"One man rave"
etc

It will happen regardless.........

I have known people to spell it Louie, this spelling makes me cringe a bit but it would get around your 'lou-is' problem.

Unless I was French I would pronounce Louis as Lou-is. That is also how it's pronounced in most other European countries (I know a German Louis). Also the City of St Louis in the US is pronounced with the 's' as far as I know.

If you insist on the French pronunciation, but living in the UK, I'd spell it Louie - that way everyone knows excactly how to pronounce it.

St Louis - 'Meet me in St Louis'? Pronounced Lou-ee.

Louis Armstrong - famous American singer - pronounced Lou-ee

With all due respect to lovely American folk - if they can get it right, then.....

Louis is a gorgeous name; don't change the spelling - people seem to know how to pronounce the name of all those rather famous French kings!

People can spell/pronounce a huge number of names wrongly; I say go for it if you love it.

Exactly what slinking said.

St Louis is St Lou-ee not Lewis.

DON'T spell it Louie, its Louis, pronounced Lou-ee.

Anyone who pronounces it as Lewis would seriously Piss me off

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis,_Missouri

Americans pronounce it Lou-is. Only the French would NOT pronounce the s.

And as for Louis Armstrong, the film Hello Dolly was a pretty good indication of how his name should be pronounced. He opens with the line "Hello Dolly, this is Lou-is Dolly" etc. Another indicator comes from the man who is apparently Louis Armstrong's grandson. In a recent article Herb Armstong says "I remember everyone liked my grandfather. That's Louis (pronounced Lew-is) not Lou-ey. He liked to be called Louis (Lew-is)."

By the way, I don't have a Louis and don't care whether you choose to pronounce Louis the French or English way, but I do feel it is ridiculous to say that the French way is the only correct way. In fact, we English should be pronounce words our way, not imitate the French (who don't pronounce many ending letters of words ). No German would pronounce it without the s by the way.

Sophiesmummie - yes Louis Armstrong did pronounce his name 'Lewis" but then that is American English rather than UK English. I think in the UK we tend to go more with the French pronunciation, e.g. Louis Walsh and Louis Theroux, than the American one. Just a thought!

Yes, sure you can choose to pronounce a name or word the French way. But just don't exect everyone else to do so too automatically .

But its a French name. So should be pronounced the French way, I reckon.

It would be like having an Amelie but calling her Emily.

My German nephew is Louis, pronounced Lou-is. Seems to be becoming more popular in Germany.

All the boys I know called Louis , pronounce it Lou-is

Louis Armstrong preferred his name to be pn Lou-ee. Even Sandra Bullock named her baby Louis - pronounced Lou-ee "after Louis Armstrong".

St Louis is mostly pn Lou-ee.

I know 7 boys called Louis (am a teacher) and all pn it Lou-ee).