Milou is a Dutch short form of the compound name Marie-Louise, which itself combines Marie (the French form of Maria) and Louise. Despite its Dutch usage as a feminine name, Milou is most widely recognized internationally as the original French name of Snowy, the faithful white fox terrier companion to Tintin in the Belgian comic series The Adventures of Tintin by Hergé. Origin and Meaning Milou is a diminutive or pet form of Marie-Louise, a traditional French double name that became popular in Dutch-speaking regions as well. The name follows a common pattern in French and Dutch for creating affectionate short forms by truncating one part of a compound name—here Marie- is reduced to Mil- and combined with a clipped -lou from Louise. While Milou is used as a given name for girls in the Netherlands, it remains uncommon and strongly associated with its fictional canine bearer. Cultural Significance In The Adventures of Tintin, created by the Belgian cartoonist Hergé, Milou (known as Snowy in English translations and Bobbie in Dutch) first appeared on 10 January 1929 in the serialized story Tintin in the Land of the Soviets. The dog is a white Wire Fox Terrier and serves as Tintin’s loyal companion, often offering unspoken commentary through internal monologues—a feature that was diminished after the introduction of Captain Haddock. The original French name Milou was reportedly derived from the nickname of Hergé’s first girlfriend. Due to the global popularity of the Tintin series, which has been translated into many languages and adapted for film and television, Milou is instantly recognizable even outside its native context. The character of Snowy has entered the public domain in certain countries as of 2025. Related Names Milou is related to several other diminutives of Marie-Louise. Danish shares Malou, while French has Marilou. All these forms are found primarily in Europe, especially among French and Dutch speakers. Meaning: Short form of Marie-Louise (French double name) Origin: French, adopted into Dutch usage Type: Feminine given name; also a fictional dog's name Usage Regions: Netherlands, Belgium (French- and Dutch-speaking) Notable: Also the original French name of Snowy in The Adventures of Tintin