The baby name Lois stepped out of the New Testament into the comic books.
Thanks to Julie for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME LOIS MEAN?
The baby name Lois most likely comes from the Greek loion, meaning better.
Those Greek origins mean that Lois isn’t related to so many trending L- and Lo- names, like Lyla, Lola, and Eloise.
Except that Lois might also be a form of Louise. If that’s the case, then it comes from Germanic elements meaning “famous warrior.” Given the dozens of variations of Louis in use across the centuries, Lois isn’t a stretch.
For this reason, Lois is also occasionally listed as a male name, though that would be very unusual in English-speaking countries today.
LOIS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
The original Lois comes from the Bible.
In the New Testament, she’s the mother of Eunice and, through Eunice, grandmother of Timothy. Both Lois and Eunice are praised for their piety.
Timothy, of course, became an early Christian leader, bishop and close associate of Saint Paul.
The baby name Lois was discovered during the Reformation, when parents went looking for names that weren’t obviously connected to saints.
LOIS IN THE 20th CENTURY
The baby name Lois peaked in the 1920s and 1930s, and that means we can think of a number of high profile uses of the name, including:
- Celebrated children’s author Lois Lowry, author of beloved novel The Giver
- Early silent film star, Lois Moran – better remembered as a romantic interest of the legendary F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Model Lois Chiles, known for her big screen role as Holly Goodhead from James Bond spies-in-space odyssey Moonraker
- Fictional – and hysterically funny – television mom to Malcolm in the Middle
- Another mom, Lois Griffin, on animated series Family Guy
- Perhaps both television moms were inspired by Lois Flagston, the wife of Hi and mom to the four Flagston kids since the 1950s in Sunday comic strip Hi and Lois
But there’s one pop culture Lois that dominates this name’s image. For that, we turn to DC Comics.
LOIS LANE
Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster, Superman debuted in the year 1930.
1940’s radio show The Adventures of Superman expanded the character’s appeal.
Lois Lane was first introduced in 1938. Like Superman’s alter ego, Clark Kent, Lane is a reporter for the Daily Planet. She’s intelligent, motivated, and dark-haired. While Lane is fiercely independent she, like all mere mortals, sometimes requires a rescue from Superman.
And, for obvious reasons, she gets the stories about the hero that Clark can’t cover.
Plenty of adaptations have featured Lane, too. Canadian actress Margot Kidder played the reporter opposite Christopher Reeves during the 1980s.
American actress Rachel Brosnahan stars opposite David Corenswet in the 2025 film.
The character’s name was said to be inspired by Lola Lane, an actress on Broadway and in films during the era when Siegel and Shuster were creating teh series.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME LOIS?
In fact, the first name Lois was a logical pick for character.
The baby name Lois ranked in the US Top 1000 for girls every year from 1880, when the data is first reported, through 1983.
Beginning in 1902, Lois became a Top 100 female name in the US. It reached the US Top Twenty during the 1920s.
It fit right in with other favorites from the era, especially ones ending with the S sound, like Frances, Doris, and Alice, as well as brief Biblical baby names like Ruth.
The popularity of Lois fell beginning in the 1950s, and by the 1980s, it was headed for obscurity.
As of 2024, just 120 girls were named Lois. That’s up from 78 births in the year 2000, but it’s still pretty uncommon.
THE NEXT ANTIQUE REVIVAL
Still, there are signs that the baby name Lois could be due for an uptick in popularity.
If the new Superman movie succeeds, a new generation of parents might reconsider the name.
It also could appeal to families seeking underused Biblical classics. The controversial influencer Hannah Neelemam of Ballerina Farm is mom to sons Henry, Charles, and George, plus daughters Frances, Lois, Martha, Mabel, and Flora.
Most of those names are trending, suggesting that Lois could be next.
In fact, this might be the perfect name for parents seeking something tailored, sparky, and feminine, with plenty of history, but still quite uncommon.
What do you think of the baby name Lois?
First published on September 25, 2009, this post was revised on July 2, 2025.
Obviously my name is Lois. I’m the fourth one in a row in my family. It used to be quite frustrating having three in the house at the same time as I’m sure you can imagine. As a child I hated my name because I was the only person I knew who couldn’t buy those pencils or keychains with my name on it. Now that I’m older I do like my name more. However, I find that the majority of people are too daft to be able to pronounce it. I can’t tell you how many times I correct people a day! On the phone people call me Lily, Rose, Heather, Lisa, Liz, Luis. The L names I get, but I don’t know how people come up with the other ones!
I have a few nicknames: Loi, Lolo, Loisina, J-LOis, Little-Lo – and I can’t think of the others haha.
How odd that none of those replying actually are Loises. I are one. I agree that the s at the end of a name is harsh; I have been called Lo and Loie. Also Loi, which I like best. Nieces have referred to me as Aunt LoLo.
My middle name is Elaine so I
Lois is my 60-something-year-old aunt’s name, so for me it falls right into the awkward grey area where it’s both too old, and not old enough, to be cool.
I agree. I know a couple of ladies named Lois – both mothers of my 30-ish friends, making Lois 60-ish.
I love Lois! I actually went to high school with one (so she’s in her late 20’s now) and on my last trip to Disneyland, I saw a young teenage girl with “Lois” embroidered on her Mickey hat.
I definitely think it could work today. I actually find it rather sultry — perhaps it’s that “Lo” sound.
No, I can’t say I can come even close to appreciating it. Give me Lilias or Alice any day. I don’t know exactly what it is about Lois. It’s not just that I find it all reinforced granny bloomers, there’s something else. Perhaps it’s the distinct LO but then I like Lowenna and Finlo :/
Lois is not for me. It reminds me of an older woman, grandma, not grandma chic. I know a Lois who is not my most favorite person (she’s not awful, but she has some less than stellar personality traits). The name itself is not that pretty to my ears either.
As for Alice, I have a friend who is expecting a girl and she is planning on naming her Alice. I think it is a lot nicer than Lois.
Are you sure Alice and Frances are returning to fashion? They seem to be getting some buzz – particularly Alice – but, judging from their NameVoyager charts, the best that can be said is that they appear to have recently bottomed out. But maybe they’re becoming trendy in cutting-edge neighborhoods?
I’m not a fan of the hissy sound of -is names, but the name Lois always puts me in mind of Lois Lane as portrayed by Teri Hatcher – brainy, intrepid and courageous. A great name inspiration.
Holey, you raise a good point. There’s also the case of Henry – far more fashionable these days, but it isn’t as if he used to be #535 and now he’s #17. As for Alice and Frances, I think their use by celebs puts them in the spotlight – and just like Matilda, makes it likely that they’ll pick up in use. But you’re right – there’s certainly no epidemic of little girls called Alice. Yet.
While I do love the nickname Lo
I actually really like Lois. She’s not on my list (although Louisa and Eloise are) but I would be so delighted to meet a baby Lois. It’s a simple, strong name and I like the nickname “Lo”.
I am not a huge fan of Lois, she seems very dated and not ready for a come-back to me. It makes me think of the nasally talking Lois Griffin on Family Guy and it reminds me of locusts.