How to say it
LEW · is
ˈluː.ɪs
Masculine
Lewis
Famous warrior
What it means
The English form of Louis, from the Germanic Hludwig, hlud ('fame') plus wig ('war'), 'famous in battle.'
Lewis is the English spelling of Louis, from the old Germanic Hludwig, 'famous in war.' It carries explorers (Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark), authors (C.S. Lewis of Narnia), and champions (Formula One's Lewis Hamilton). It reads sturdy and a little scholarly, the down-to-earth twin of the French Louis. Lew and Lewie are the shorts.
How to spell Lewis
The standard spelling is Lewis. Common variants include Louis, Lewes, Ludwig, but Lewis is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #30 in 1880, currently #433 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Lewis is the English form of Louis; same 'famous warrior' root.
- Pop culture
C.S. Lewis; Lewis and Clark; Lewis Hamilton.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- C.S. Lewis author of The Chronicles of Narnia
- Lewis Hamilton seven-time Formula One world champion
Spelling variants
- Louis
- Lewes
- Ludwig
Names with the same feeling
See Lewis from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Lewis mean?
- The English form of Louis, from the Germanic Hludwig, hlud ('fame') plus wig ('war'), 'famous in battle.'
- What does Lewis mean in Germanic?
- In Germanic, Lewis means "Famous warrior." Lewis is the English spelling of Louis, from the old Germanic Hludwig, 'famous in war.' It carries explorers (Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark), authors (C.S. Lewis of Narnia), and champions (Formula One's Lewis Hamilton). It reads sturdy and a little scholarly, the down-to-earth twin of the French Louis. Lew and Lewie are the shorts.
- How do you pronounce Lewis?
- Lewis is pronounced ˈluː.ɪs. Say it as LEW-is, with the stress on the "lew" syllable.
- How do you spell Lewis?
- The standard spelling is Lewis. Common spelling variants include Louis, Lewes, Ludwig.
- Is Lewis a boy or girl name?
- Lewis is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Lewis?
- Lewis ranked #433 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.