Rue vs Lou

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Rue

Girl #1,242 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"herb of grace, regret"

Origin: Old English

English French American

✓ All Clear

Boy #2,123 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"famous warrior"

Origin: Germanic via French Louis

French English American

24 High Risk

{:type=>:nickname, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Lou' can be twisted to 'poo'"}

Rue Rank #1,242

Lou Rank #2,123

Rue is more popular, ranked #1242 vs #2123 for Lou.

Is Rue or Lou more popular?

Rue is more popular, ranked #1242 compared to Lou at #2123 in the United States.

What do Rue and Lou mean?

Rue means "herb of grace, regret" (Old English origin). Lou means "famous warrior" (Germanic via French Louis origin).

Are Rue and Lou boy or girl names?

Rue is primarily a girl name. Lou is primarily a boy name.