Meaning and background
The story behind Filou
Filou is a French word with both a disapproving and an affectionate use. Larousse defines an individual who cheats or tries to steal, but also records a familiar endearment for a clever, mischievous child. That second usage helps explain the appeal of Filou as a playful dog name, while the first remains part of what French speakers may hear. An owner can make the affectionate intention explicit rather than treating it as a neutral translation of clever. The dictionary also records adjectival use for dishonest behaviour.
- Meaning
- French word for a dishonest or thieving person, also used affectionately for a clever child in familiar speech. Source
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About Filou
Recorded as a dog’s name
Filou appears in 4 dog licence records in the 2022 New York City dataset.
How to read this count
These records cover New York City and may count the same dog in more than one licence period. They are not a national popularity ranking.
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Sources and research notes (1)
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene NYC Dog Licensing Dataset — all seven available extract years, retrieved 24 October 2026 — Recorded name spellings in NYC licence-period rows, extract years 2016–2018, 2022–2024 and 2026. Evidence selects one stated year per name. Annual snapshots overlap; never sum them as unique dogs. No national popularity, etymology or owner naming-intent claim.
References support the individual facts shown. A source link does not mean the entire profile has been verified.