Dewain
A boy's name of Welsh origin with 800 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
At 6 letters and two syllables, Dewain hits the middle ground most parents look for: long enough to feel complete, short enough for everyday use. It has been used as a boy's name in the U.S. since 1913, with 800 total recorded births.
Dewain is not in the current top 1,000, which means your child is unlikely to share the name with a classmate — a plus for parents who value distinctiveness.
Dewain is not in the current top 1,000 boy names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Dewain is a boy's baby name of Welsh origin, a variant of Dwain or Dwayne, from the Irish and Welsh Dubhán or Duane, meaning 'dark' or 'little dark one' — from the Irish dubh (black, dark). The Dewain spelling gives the name a slightly more elaborate visual form.
Dwayne and its variants were popular in mid-twentieth-century America, with strong representation in both Irish American and African American naming. Dewain's spelling creates a distinctive personal variation of the familiar sound.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Dewain's final sounds are sharp, distinct — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Dewain follows that masculine pattern.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Dewain's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Dewain has 72+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1913.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5 | #10823 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 17 | #8451 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 28 | #6264 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 79 | #4092 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 112 | #2649 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 130 | #2339 | — |
| 1940s | 142 | #2045 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 135 | #2103 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 121 | #2498 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 31 | #3025 | — |
The Story of Dewain
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1953, Dewain is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Dewain are most likely born between 1943 and 1963.
How rare is Dewain?
With 800 total births on record, Dewain remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1913, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1940s with 142 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Dewain by the numbers
- Would fill 17 school buses
- Meeting one Dewain per day would take 2.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(72 years, 1913–2000)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5 | #10823 |
| 1997 | 5 | #9643 |
| 1993 | 5 | #9113 |
| 1990 | 7 | #6597 |
| 1988 | 5 | #7578 |
| 1984 | 5 | #6567 |
| 1983 | 6 | #5665 |
| 1982 | 6 | #5832 |
| 1981 | 6 | #5679 |
| 1979 | 11 | #3632 |
| 1978 | 5 | #6053 |
| 1977 | 14 | #2944 |
| 1976 | 6 | #5095 |
| 1975 | 11 | #3293 |
| 1974 | 11 | #3186 |
| 1973 | 9 | #3516 |
| 1972 | 5 | #5161 |
| 1970 | 7 | #3949 |
| 1969 | 9 | #3124 |
| 1968 | 6 | #3800 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dewain a boy's or girl's name?
When was Dewain most popular?
How popular is the name Dewain?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1913–2000