Boy name · Germanic
Ludwig
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: famous warriorLudwig is a boy's name that comes from Germanic and means "famous warrior". It is used in German.
- Meaning
- Famous warrior
- Origin
- Germanic
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #7044 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Ludwig
As a boy's name, Ludwig comes from Germanic and means "famous warrior". It is used in German.
Ludwig is also a surname: the 1,649th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 21,232 people. See the most common last names.
Its meaning puts Ludwig on our names that mean warrior list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Ludwig on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Ludwig on 5 lists.
“Beethoven's first name, for a cat with a powerful voice”
From Boy cat names, artist and musician names for boy cats
“Famous warrior; Germanic hlud and wig. Beethoven's first name”
From German boy names, traditional male German names
“Famous warrior; Germanic. Louis the Pious, Charlemagne's heir, bore its older form”
From Medieval names and surnames, medieval German names
“Famous warrior; German. Beethoven's first name”
From Names that mean warrior, boy names that mean warrior
“Famous in battle; German form of Louis, Beethoven's first name”
From Strong boy names, boy names that mean warrior or fighter
How popular is Ludwig?
- US rank in 2025
- #7,044
- 12 babies, 7 per million boys
- Best rank
- #493 in 1893
- Most babies: 88 in 1916
- Babies since 1880
- At least 2,696
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 61 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 95 per million |
| 1900s | 77 per million |
| 1910s | 83 per million |
| 1920s | 48 per million |
| 1930s | 36 per million |
| 1940s | 13 per million |
| 1950s | 9 per million |
| 1960s | 7 per million |
| 1970s | 5 per million |
| 1980s | 4 per million |
| 1990s | 4 per million |
| 2000s | 4 per million |
| 2010s | 4 per million |
| 2020s | 6 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #9,365 | #11,628 | #7,430 | – | #9,228 | #6,545 | #8,722 | #8,657 | #8,100 | #7,044 |
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 Ludwig
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- AloisFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
- AloysiusFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
- LewisFamous 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)
- LuigiFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
- LuisFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
Names spelled like Ludwig
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- LudwikFamous in battle (Germanic, boy)
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 Ludwig
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter 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)
Ludwig: common questions
What does the name Ludwig mean?
Ludwig comes from Germanic and means "famous warrior".
Is Ludwig a boy or girl name?
Ludwig is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Ludwig come from?
Ludwig comes from Germanic and means "famous warrior". Today it is used in German.
How popular is the name Ludwig?
Ludwig ranked #7,044 in the US in 2025, with 12 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Ludwig?
Forms of Ludwig with the same meaning and origin include Alois (German), Aloysius (English), Lewis (English), Lodewijk (Dutch) and Loïc (French).
What middle names go with Ludwig?
Middle names that flow well with Ludwig include Abel, Asher, Clark, David and Grant. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.