Lois

♀ Girl

Pronounced LOH-is /ˈloʊ.ɪs/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 (2024)#1698 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births120 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1927

Total births (all-time)≈ 332,830

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

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 — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Lois…

Eunice— Timothy's mother in the same New Testament passage as Lois

Phoebe— another Greek-origin woman's name from the New Testament

Iris— shares Lois's short Greek-rooted form

Joyce— 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.ɪs/.

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.