Boy name · Germanic
Lewis
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: famous warriorLewis is a boy's name that comes from Germanic and means "famous warrior". It is used in English and Scottish.
- Meaning
- Famous warrior
- Origin
- Germanic
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #433 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Lewis
As a boy's name, Lewis comes from Germanic and means "famous warrior". It is used in English and Scottish.
Lewis is also a surname: the 30th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 515,459 people. See the most common last names.
Its meaning puts Lewis on our names that mean warrior list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Lewis on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Lewis on 4 lists.
“Famous warrior; Germanic. A Scottish favorite form of Louis”
From Classic boy names, classic Irish, Scottish and Welsh boy names
“The northern part of the largest Outer Hebridean island”
From Highland cattle names, highland cow names from Scottish places
“Famous warrior; medieval English and Scottish form of Louis”
From Names that mean warrior, boy names that mean warrior
“English form of Louis: famous warrior; also a Hebridean isle.”
From Scottish boy names, popular Scottish boy names
How popular is Lewis?
- US rank in 2025
- #433
- 736 babies, 431 per million boys
- Best rank
- #30 in 1880
- Most babies: 2,712 in 1921
- Babies since 1880
- At least 155,766
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 3,963 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 3,242 per million |
| 1900s | 2,977 per million |
| 1910s | 2,665 per million |
| 1920s | 2,298 per million |
| 1930s | 1,894 per million |
| 1940s | 1,406 per million |
| 1950s | 897 per million |
| 1960s | 607 per million |
| 1970s | 455 per million |
| 1980s | 316 per million |
| 1990s | 233 per million |
| 2000s | 172 per million |
| 2010s | 242 per million |
| 2020s | 380 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #506 | #542 | #548 | #557 | #497 | #485 | #489 | #470 | #432 | #433 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Lewis
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- AloisFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
- AloysiusFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
- LodewijkFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
- LoïcFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
- LouFamous warrior (Germanic, unisex)
- LouieFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
- LouisFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
- LudovicoFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
- LudvigFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
- LudwigFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
- LuigiFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
- LuisFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
Names spelled like Lewis
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Names with a similar meaning
- LouiseFamous warrior (Germanic, girl)
- BertaBright, famous (Germanic, girl)
- ClotildeFamous battle (Germanic, girl)
- LuisaFamous warrior (Germanic, girl)
- RolandFamous land (Germanic, boy)
- DonnchadhBrown warrior (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- DuncanBrown warrior (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- FinleyFair warrior (Scottish Gaelic, unisex)
- IvorYew warrior (Old Norse, boy)
- McKinleySon of Fionnlagh, white warrior (Gaelic, unisex)
Middle names for Lewis
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Germanic
- HugoHeart, mind (Germanic, boy)
- LiamShort for William, will helmet (Germanic, boy)
- RobertBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- LambertBright land (Germanic, boy)
- LeonardoBrave lion (Germanic, boy)
- AlaricRuler of all (Germanic, boy)
- AlbertNoble and bright (Germanic, boy)
- AlbertoNoble and bright (Germanic, boy)
- ArmandoArmy man (Germanic, boy)
- ArnoEagle (Germanic, boy)
Lewis: common questions
What does the name Lewis mean?
Lewis comes from Germanic and means "famous warrior".
Is Lewis a boy or girl name?
Lewis is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Lewis come from?
Lewis comes from Germanic and means "famous warrior". Today it is used in English and Scottish.
How popular is the name Lewis?
Lewis ranked #433 in the US in 2025, with 736 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Lewis?
Forms of Lewis with the same meaning and origin include Alois (German), Aloysius (English), Lodewijk (Dutch), Loïc (French) and Lou (French).
What middle names go with Lewis?
Middle names that flow well with Lewis include Everett, Grant, Harrison, Magnus and Maximilian. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.