How to say it
LUIS
ˈluis
Masculine
Luis
Famous warrior
What it means
Spanish form of Louis, from Frankish Hludwig (hlud 'fame' + wig 'warrior'). The dominant masculine name across Spanish-speaking countries for centuries; the Spanish king Luis I and Luis Buñuel the filmmaker anchor different eras.
Luis is the Spanish form of Louis (and Lewis), all from the Frankish Hludwig ('famous warrior'). Spain had two kings named Luis (the first being Luis I in 1724, son of Philip V). Luis Buñuel (1900-1983) was a Spanish-Mexican filmmaker, central to surrealist cinema. Luis Suárez (the Uruguayan footballer) and Luis Miguel (the Mexican singer) anchor different modern moments. The English-speaking US has used Luis since the late 20th century with broader Latino-name adoption. It's been in the US top 200 since 1980. Pronounced LOO-ees in Spanish (one or two syllables depending on speed); some American English pronunciations say LOO-iss.
How to spell Luis
The standard spelling is Luis. Common variants include Louis, Lewis, but Luis is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #49 in 2000, currently #144 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
- Pronunciation
Standard Spanish: LWEES (one syllable) or LU-ees (two syllables). Some American English pronounces LOO-iss (sounding the final S clearly).
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.
- Luis Buñuel Spanish-Mexican filmmaker, Un Chien Andalou and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
- Luis Suárez Uruguayan footballer, Liverpool and Barcelona striker
Spelling variants
- Louis
- Lewis
Names with the same feeling
See Luis from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Luis mean?
- Spanish form of Louis, from Frankish Hludwig (hlud 'fame' + wig 'warrior'). The dominant masculine name across Spanish-speaking countries for centuries; the Spanish king Luis I and Luis Buñuel the filmmaker anchor different eras.
- What does Luis mean in Spanish?
- In Spanish, Luis means "Famous warrior." Luis is the Spanish form of Louis (and Lewis), all from the Frankish Hludwig ('famous warrior'). Spain had two kings named Luis (the first being Luis I in 1724, son of Philip V). Luis Buñuel (1900-1983) was a Spanish-Mexican filmmaker, central to surrealist cinema. Luis Suárez (the Uruguayan footballer) and Luis Miguel (the Mexican singer) anchor different modern moments. The English-speaking US has used Luis since the late 20th century with broader Latino-name adoption. It's been in the US top 200 since 1980. Pronounced LOO-ees in Spanish (one or two syllables depending on speed); some American English pronunciations say LOO-iss.
- How do you pronounce Luis?
- Luis is pronounced ˈluis. Say it as LUIS, with the stress on the "luis" syllable.
- How do you spell Luis?
- The standard spelling is Luis. Common spelling variants include Louis, Lewis.
- Is Luis a boy or girl name?
- Luis is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Luis?
- Luis ranked #144 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.