Lois is a girl name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Lois means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Lois across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Lois has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Lois is a girl name of Greek origin meaning “most desirable, agreeable”. A New Testament name of uncertain but likely Greek origin.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 335,594 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 9,749 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 1,125 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 299 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 86 births |
| New Zealand top 100, since 1954 | 278 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Lois per year, United States (1880 to 2025). United States peaked in 1927 (10,587/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2008 (507/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2012 (53/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 1998 (21/yr) · Ireland peaked in 2018 (8/yr).
Lois has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1927, when it ranked #38 nationally (given to 10,587 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1920s.
Lou · Lia · Leia · Louie · Loy · Loye · Loa · Laia
Not sure if it's the one? The best way to know is to see if your partner loves it too. Swipe baby names with your partner and match on the ones you both ❤️, free, no account needed to start.
Find your name together →