Lou

Lou is a short form of English and French names beginning with Lou-, most commonly Louise, Louis, or their variants, all of which trace back to the Old High German name Hludwig, composed of the elements hlud, meaning famous or renowned, and wig, meaning warrior. As an independent given name it gained particular currency in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in both Europe and North America. Notable bearers include American baseball legend Lou Gehrig and musician Lou Reed. Related forms include Louis, Lewis, Louise, and Louie.