The name Lewis or Louis which is the correct spelling or is it matter of preference decided at birth?

Question

The name Lewis or Louis which is the correct spelling or is it matter of preference decided at birth?

Question #134874. Asked by endoverend.
Last updated Feb 26 2014.
Originally posted Feb 25 2014 10:35 PM.

penguintrivia
Answer has 2 votes

penguintrivia
11 year member
33 replies

Answer has 2 votes.

Both Louis and Lewis are English versions of the German Ludwig, Louis is also a French variant. Pronounced in the English style it is Lew-wis but parents may wish the name or one of its variants to be pronounced in the French or other style.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_%28given_name%29

Feb 25 2014, 10:50 PM

Sign in or Create Free User ID to participate in the discussion

Answer 1

mrsoliverwood
Answer has 1 vote

mrsoliverwood
22 year member
19 replies

Answer has 1 vote.

Louis was the original name, an anglicised version appeared in the Middle Ages as Lewis.

http://www.babynames.co.uk/meaning_origin_name_Lewis.htm

Feb 26 2014, 4:01 AM

Answer 2

satguru

Answer has 0 votes

satguru

Moderator
21 year member
1250 replies avatar

Answer has 0 votes.

The reason we have Lewis and Louis and Stewart and Stuart is because the French did not use the letter W so had to use a u and another vowel to make the same sound. Now the spellings have become interchangeable. Source, memory.

Feb 26 2014, 9:54 PM