Luise is a feminine given name of German origin. It is a variant spelling of the name Louise, which itself comes from the French form of the Germanic name Luidger or Leuthold. These names are derived from the elements "hlud" meaning "famous" or "loud," and "helm" meaning "helmet."
The name Luise has been popular in Germany for centuries, with one of its most notable bearers being Luise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1776-1810), who became the Queen consort of Prussia as the wife of King Frederick William III. She was known for her kindness and charitable works, and her name is often associated with these qualities in Germany.
In English-speaking countries, Luise has not been as commonly used as its French counterpart Louise, but it remains a unique and distinctive name choice for those interested in German names or looking for an alternative to Louise.
Overall, Luise is a name of strong historical roots and a distinctively Germanic origin. It offers parents a unique naming option that can still connect to traditional European naming trends.
Statistics on the given name Luise in the United States reveal a fluctuating trend over time. The name first appeared in 1909 with eight babies being named Luise that year. This number remained relatively stable for the next few years, ranging from seven to ten births per year until 1927.
After reaching a peak of 24 births in 1920-1922, the popularity of the name Luise started to decline. There were fewer than ten births per year from 1923 to 1959, with some years recording only five or six births.
The name experienced a brief resurgence during the late 1950s and early 1960s, with numbers ranging between seven and fifteen births annually. However, this upswing was short-lived as the popularity of Luise declined again in the following decades.
Since the 2000s, there has been a slight increase in the number of babies named Luise, with five births recorded each year from 2008 to 2022, except for six births in 2011. Overall, since 1909 until 2022, there have been a total of 581 births registered as Luise in the United States.
These statistics demonstrate that while Luise was once a popular name at the beginning of the twentieth century, its popularity has significantly waned over time and it is now relatively uncommon. Despite this, some parents continue to choose Luise for their daughters, contributing to an average of five births per year since 2008.