Luís

Luís is a masculine given name used in Portuguese-speaking countries, notably Portugal and Brazil, as well as in other communities with Portuguese heritage. It is the Portuguese form of Louis and is related to the names Luis (Spanish) and Louis (French). The name is widely used in history and modern times, and it is commonly shortened to Lu or Luísinho in informal speech.

Luís derives from the Latin Ludovicus, which itself comes from the Proto-Germanic name Hludwig, composed of elements hlūd- meaning “fame” and -wīg meaning “war” or “battle.” The name thus signifies “famous in battle” or “famous warrior.” Through Latin, it entered Romance languages and took distinctive local spellings such as Luís in Portuguese or Luis in Spanish, and Luiz in Brazilian Portuguese.

In the Portuguese-speaking world, Luís has medieval roots and has been borne by royalty, saints, and scholars. Luís de Camões, a 16th-century poet, is considered a key figure in Portuguese literature. The feminine form is Luísa.

Variants and related forms appear across languages: Lluís in Catalan, Luiz in Brazilian Portuguese, and Louis in French. Across history and cultures, the name shares a common origin with other forms of Louis and remains a common given name in the Portuguese-speaking world.