Lois
Girl name · #1666 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Lois? In official American birth records, Lois has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 124 baby girls were named Lois, placing it at #1666 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1872, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 14,516 girls born in 2025 was named Lois.
Babies named Lois per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
The historical record for Lois begins in 1880 with 53 recorded births. Its peak came in 1927, when 10,505 girls were named Lois — good for #19 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Lois against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Lois in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Lois is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Lois will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Lois is most common
State-level data for Lois is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Lois
Statistically, parents drawn to Lois tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Doris, Lenore, Jean, Dolores, and Joan.
DorisLenoreJeanDoloresJoanLorraineBettyNorma
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Lois | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 124 | #1666 |
| 2024 | 121 | #1681 |
| 2023 | 132 | #1586 |
| 2022 | 124 | #1684 |
| 2021 | 120 | #1721 |
| 2020 | 106 | #1841 |
| 2019 | 124 | #1687 |
| 2018 | 122 | #1692 |
| 2017 | 134 | #1614 |
| 2016 | 119 | #1743 |
| 2015 | 109 | #1872 |
| 2014 | 101 | #1967 |
| 2013 | 78 | #2344 |
| 2012 | 94 | #2047 |
| 2011 | 72 | #2511 |
| 2010 | 70 | #2589 |
| 2009 | 80 | #2396 |
| 2008 | 85 | #2295 |
| 2007 | 82 | #2328 |
| 2006 | 87 | #2206 |
| 2005 | 65 | #2607 |
| 2004 | 64 | #2589 |
| 2003 | 73 | #2301 |
| 2002 | 85 | #2028 |
| 2001 | 84 | #2013 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Lois?
In official American birth records, the name Lois first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 53 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Lois a popular girl name?
Lois ranked #1666 among girls in 2025 with 124 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1872.
When was the name Lois most popular?
Lois peaked in 1927, when 10,505 American girls received the name (ranked #19 that year). Since 1927 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Lois?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 14,516 newborn American girls was named Lois. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.