Clovis (given name)


Clovis is the modern conventional French form of the Old Frankish name or *"Hlōdowik" or "Hlōdowig", equivalent to the modern forms Louis, Lodewijk, Lewis, and Ludwig.

Etymology

The name *Hlōdowik or *Hlōdowig is traditionally considered to be composed of two elements, deriving from both Proto-Germanic *hlūdaz and *wiganą respectively, resulting in the traditional practice of translating Clovis' name as meaning "famous warrior".
However, scholars have pointed out that Gregory of Tours consequently transcribes the names of various Merovingian royal names containing the first element as chlodo-. The use of a close-mid back protruded vowel, rather than the expected close back rounded vowel which Gregory does use in various other Germanic names opens up the possibility that the first element instead derives from Proto-Germanic *hlutą, giving the meaning of the name as "loot bringer" or "plunder warrior". This hypothesis is supported by the fact that if the first element is taken to mean "famous", then the name of Chlodomer would contain two elements both meaning "famous", which would be highly uncommon within the typical Germanic name structure.

Frankish royalty

Modern use

Because of the importance of Clovis I in the national historiography of France, the form Clovis has been occasionally revived beginning in the 19th century. Chlodwig is a variant of Clovis.

Fictional characters