An uncommon German pick — distinctive and rare.
A diminutive of the male given name Lewis. A male given name.
Lew is a boy's and girl's baby name of German origin, a diminutive of Lewis or Louis, derived from the Old French form of the Germanic Chlodovech, meaning 'famous warrior.' Short, punchy, and direct, Lew was used as a standalone name in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Lew has 111+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 17 | ▲ |
| 2010s | 6 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 18 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 72 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 106 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 250 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 394 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 313 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 300 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 238 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 212 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 69 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 66 | ▼ |
| 1880s | 127 | — |
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12 | #7127 |
| 2022 | 5 | #13539 |
| 2016 | 6 | #11593 |
| 1996 | 5 | #9929 |
| 1992 | 5 | #9281 |
| 1991 | 8 | #6287 |
| 1989 | 5 | #8700 |
| 1988 | 6 | #6921 |
| 1987 | 6 | #6619 |
| 1986 | 10 | #4332 |
| 1984 | 5 | #6931 |
| 1983 | 10 | #4037 |
| 1982 | 6 | #6094 |
| 1981 | 12 | #3534 |
| 1980 | 12 | #3535 |
| 1979 | 8 | #4670 |
| 1978 | 8 | #4406 |
| 1977 | 6 | #5560 |
| 1976 | 8 | #4250 |
| 1975 | 10 | #3574 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Lew has also been given to 15 girls in the U.S. since 1929.
Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1880–2023) · Methodology