lois

Lois is a feminine given name used in English-speaking countries. It is often treated as a standalone name or as a variant of Louise, which itself derives from the French name Louis. The name gained popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries in various Anglophone communities.

Notable people and fictional characters named Lois include author Lois Lowry, known for The Giver; author Lois Duncan, known for young adult thrillers; actress Lois Chiles, and the fictional reporter Lois Lane from the Superman stories. The name has also appeared in other media and as a personal name for real individuals in different fields.

In French, lois is the plural of loi, meaning "laws." It is used in legal and governmental language to refer to statutes enacted by a legislature. The term appears in phrases such as lois et règlements (laws and regulations) and is a central concept in French constitutional and administrative law. The plural form distinguishes it from the singular loi, which denotes a single law.

Lois can also appear as a surname in some cases, though it is much less common than its use as a given name. Overall, lois reflects both personal-name usage in Anglophone contexts and a linguistic/legal term in French, illustrating how the same spelling carries different meanings across languages.