Meaning & History
Luis is a Spanish male given name, equivalent to Louis in French and Ludwig in German. It originates from the Germanic name Hlodowig, composed of the elements hlūd ('fame') and wīġ ('warrior'), thus meaning 'famous warrior' or 'famous in battle'. The name was introduced to the Iberian Peninsula by the Visigoths during their occupation.
Etymology
The name Luis ultimately derives from the Latinized form Ludovicus, which became Louis in French. The Spanish form Luis has been widely used in Spain and Latin America. Linguistic variants include Luís in Portuguese and Galician, Lluís in Catalan, and Loís in Aragonese.
Historical and Royal Bearers
While the French form Louis was borne by 18 kings of France including Louis IX (Saint Louis) and Louis XIV (the Sun King), the Spanish equivalent Luis was also common among royalty and nobility in Spain and other European courts. Notable Spanish kings include Luis I, who reigned briefly in 1724.
Notable Bearers
- Luis Buñuel (1900–1983), Spanish-Mexican filmmaker known for surrealist cinema.
- Luis Fonsi (born 1978), Puerto Rican singer-songwriter famous for 'Despacito'.
- Luis Suárez (born 1987), Uruguayan footballer.
- Luis de Góngora y Argote (1561–1627), Spanish Baroque poet.
- Luis von Ahn (born 1978), Guatemalan entrepreneur and computer scientist, co-creator of CAPTCHA and Duolingo.
Related Names
Diminutives of Luis include Lucho and Luisito. The feminine form is Luisa. Cognates in other languages include Basque Koldo and Koldobika, French Loïc, Catalan Lluís, Slovene Alojz, and Croatian Alojzije.
- Meaning: Famous warrior
- Origin: Germanic, via Latin and French
- Type: Given name
- Usage: Spanish, also used in Portuguese- and Catalan-speaking regions
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Luis