A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Lew since 1880
Babies named Lew per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1959, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Lew's real moment was 1880.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 127 |
| 1890s | 66 |
| 1900s | 69 |
| 1910s | 212 |
| 1920s | 238 |
| 1930s | 300 |
| 1940s | 313 |
| 1950s | 394 |
| 1960s | 250 |
| 1970s | 106 |
| 1980s | 72 |
| 1990s | 18 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 6 |
| 2020s | 22 |
Meaning & origin
Lew is a short, sturdy name that originated as a diminutive of Lewis, the English form of Louis. Its meaning comes from the Old Frankish Chlodovech, combining elements for 'fame' and 'war.' The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1880, when it ranked 12,008, and was most popular in that same year (peak year 1880). Despite its rarity, Lew has seen a slight upward trend since 2020, making it a revival candidate among the 1880s decade names. Its concise sound and familiar spelling give it a nostalgic, straightforward appeal without any recorded top state concentrations.
Lew originated as a diminutive of Lewis, the English form of Louis, which comes from the Old Frankish name Chlodovech (Latinized as Ludovicus), derived from the Germanic elements hlud 'famous' and wig 'war, battle'. The name Lewis was introduced to England by the Normans and became common, with Lew emerging as a familiar short form in the 19th century.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Lou
Sibling names for Lew
Names that share Lew's style, for a brother or sister.
