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Home β€Ί Baby Names Directory β€Ί Lois

Lois

♀ Girl

Pronounced LOH-is /ˈloʊ.Ιͺs/Low

Meaning: possibly "more desirable, better," from Greek loion; the name of Timothy's grandmother in the New TestamentLow

In 30 seconds: Lois is a Greek name possibly meaning 'more desirable' or 'better', from 'loion'. In the New Testament it belongs to Timothy's grandmother.
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Origin LowGreek, Biblical
Meaningpossibly "more desirable, better," from Greek loion; the name of Timothy's grandmother in the New Testament
U.S. rank (2025)#1670 β†— Rising
2025 U.S. births124 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1927
Total births (all-time)β‰ˆ 332,954

Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data

peak 192718802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

The meaning of Lois is not settled; one suggestion links it to the Greek 'loion', giving a sense of 'more desirable' or 'better', but this is uncertain. What is firm is its New Testament appearance as the name of Timothy's grandmother, praised for her faith. That biblical use, more than any clear etymology, anchors the name.

Lois has a compact, single-stress sound that has kept it recognizable through long English use. With no standard variants attached, it stands on its own rather than within a cluster of respellings.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Lois is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 55%
Behind the Name - Lois β€” etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration β€” 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • β˜…Lois Lowry (1937-)
    American author of The Giver and Number the Stars
  • β˜…Lois Maxwell (1927-2007)
    Canadian actress who played Miss Moneypenny in James Bond films
  • β˜…Lois Smith (1930-)
    American stage and screen actress
  • β˜…Lois McMaster Bujold (1949-)
    American science fiction and fantasy author
  • β˜…Lois Chiles (1947-)
    American actress known for Moonraker

If you like Lois…

Euniceβ€” Timothy's mother in the same New Testament passage as Lois
Phoebeβ€” another Greek-origin woman's name from the New Testament
Irisβ€” shares Lois's short Greek-rooted form
Joyceβ€” a similarly trim, classic English name of the same vintage feel

Frequently Asked

What does the name Lois mean?

Lois is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with Uncertain tradition.

How do you pronounce Lois?

It's commonly said LOH-is /ˈloʊ.Ιͺs/.

Is Lois a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Lois is used as a girl name.

How popular is Lois?

In 2024, Lois ranked #1698 in the U.S. for girls, with 120 births recorded.

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