UK girl's name
Loulou
A diminutive form of the French feminine name Louise, meaning "renowned warrior".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Loulou is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Loulou popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5666, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 5 births.
This profile covers 27 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 1997 to 2018. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 27 living people in the UK are called Loulou. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Loulou ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales in 2018, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 5 girls were registered as Loulou.
- • About 27 living people in the UK are estimated to have Loulou as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5666
2018
Births in 2018
3
Latest year
Peak year
2004
5 births
Estimated living
27
2026
Meaning
What does Loulou mean?
The name Loulou has its origins in the French language and culture. It is a diminutive form of the name Louise, which itself is derived from the Germanic name Hlodowic, meaning "famous warrior." The name Louise gained popularity in France during the Middle Ages, particularly after the 13th century.
Loulou emerged as a hypocoristic or pet name, a diminutive form used as a term of endearment. The repetition of the syllable "lou" creates a playful and affectionate sound, which likely contributed to its use as a nickname for Louise or other names with a similar sound.
While there are no known historical references to the name Loulou itself in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its association with the name Louise connects it to various historical figures who bore that name. For instance, Louise of Savoy (1476-1531) was a prominent figure during the French Renaissance, serving as the regent of France and mother of King Francis I.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Loulou can be found in the 19th century. Marie-Louise "Loulou" de la Falaise (1866-1946) was a French aristocrat and author who published several books under the pen name "Loulou." Her use of the name as a writer's pseudonym helped popularize it further.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Loulou as a first name or nickname. Here are five examples:
1. Loulou de la Falaise (1948-2011), a French fashion designer and muse to Yves Saint Laurent. 2. Loulou Gasté (1908-1995), a French singer and actress known for her performances in operettas and musicals. 3. Loulou Ferrande (1899-1970), a French actress and singer who appeared in numerous films and stage productions. 4. Loulou Greder (1904-1984), a Swiss artist and sculptor known for her modernist works. 5. Loulou Goulet (1927-2014), a Canadian actress and singer who had a successful career in both French and English-language productions.
While these are just a few examples, the name Loulou has been used across various cultures and time periods, often as a playful and affectionate nickname or diminutive form of more formal names like Louise or Louisa.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Loulou over time
The chart below shows babies named Loulou registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Loulou, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2018, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Loulou by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Loulou was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5666 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4082 | 20 | 5 |
| 1990s | #3174 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Loulou
- Lily 72,956
- Lucy 70,663
- Lauren 50,664
- Leah 33,185
- Lola 24,525
- Layla 24,520
- Laura 23,471
- Lilly 21,714
- Lydia 18,353
- Libby 14,515
- Lara 13,415
- Lacey 13,406
FAQ
Loulou: questions and answers
How popular is the name Loulou in the UK right now?
In 2018, Loulou was ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Loulou most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 5 babies registered as Loulou in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Loulou?
A diminutive form of the French feminine name Louise, meaning "renowned warrior".
How many people are called Loulou in the UK?
A total of 27 babies have been registered as Loulou across the 7 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.