The first name Lewis
A boy’s name.
Pronounced /ˈluːɪs/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
From Middle English Lewis, Lowis, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French Louis, from Frankish *Hlūdawīg. Doublet of Louis.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 216 boys were named Lewis, making it the 231st most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1999, with 4,916 births (#13).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Lewis with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Lewis at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 736 boys born in the United States were named Lewis, the 433rd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1921, when 2,712 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Lewis
135 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Lewis HamiltonBritish racing driver, born 1985
- Martin Lewis PerlAmerican scientist (1927–2014)
- Lewis MumfordAmerican historian, sociologist, philosopher of technology and literary critic (1895-1990)
- Lewis HineAmerican sociologist and photographer (1874–1940)
- Lewis HoltbyGerman footballer (born 1990)
- Lewis DunkEnglish association football player, born 1991
- Lewis GilbertBritish film director, producer and screenwriter (1920-2018)
- Lewis CookEnglish association football player (born 1997)
- Lewis StoneAmerican actor (1879–1953)
- Lewis BakerEnglish association football player (born 1995)
- Lewis CassAmerican politician (1782-1866)
- Lewis PullmanAmerican actor (born 1993)
Questions
- What does the name Lewis mean?
- From Middle English Lewis, Lowis, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French Louis, from Frankish *Hlūdawīg. Doublet of Louis.
- How popular is the name Lewis?
- In 2025, 216 boys born in England and Wales were named Lewis, ranking 231st. Its peak was 1999, with 4,916 births.
- What are nicknames for Lewis?
- Common nicknames for Lewis include Lew, Lewy, Lewie.
- Is Lewis a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 156,636 US babies named Lewis since 1880 were boys.
- When was Lewis most popular?
- 1921 in the United States, when 2,712 babies were named Lewis, its highest rank at 71st.
- How do you pronounce Lewis?
- Lewis is /ˈluːɪs/, 2 syllables.
- Is Lewis also a surname?
- Yes. Lewis is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.