Dewana
A girl's name with 551 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Dewana peaked during the Gen X years, when 24 babies received this name in a single year (1966). That era was defined by post-traditional, counterculture-influenced naming, and Dewana has a more concentrated history, reflecting a specific cultural moment rather than a broad generational wave.
Dewana is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Dewana is a girl's baby name of African origin, a creative coinage combining the prefix De- with Wana or Vana, crafted within African American naming traditions of the mid-to-late twentieth century. The De- prefix was one of the most prolific in African American naming during this era.
Dewana has a warm, flowing quality — three syllables that move gently — making it a name that feels both distinctive and naturally graceful when spoken. It carries the inventive spirit of a naming culture committed to creating something uniquely its own.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Dewana belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their open, warm ending — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries. At three syllables, it has a three-beat flow that carries a sense of formality and completeness.
Sound-alike names often cluster in style even when they come from different linguistic roots. The Similar Names section below uses letter and phonetic patterns to surface names in Dewana’s sonic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Dewana has 44+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1936.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13 | #11562 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 84 | #8950 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 144 | #4470 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 175 | #3140 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 114 | #3205 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 15 | #5199 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 6 | #3803 | — |
The Story of Dewana
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1966, Dewana is a Gen X staple. Girls named Dewana are most likely born between 1956 and 1976.
How rare is Dewana?
With 551 total births on record, Dewana remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1936, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1960s with 175 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Dewana by the numbers
- Would fill 11 school buses
- Meeting one Dewana per day would take 1.5 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(44 years, 1936–1991)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8 | #9572 |
| 1990 | 5 | #13552 |
| 1989 | 5 | #12915 |
| 1988 | 6 | #10719 |
| 1987 | 6 | #10188 |
| 1986 | 5 | #11398 |
| 1985 | 5 | #11094 |
| 1984 | 7 | #8395 |
| 1983 | 10 | #6342 |
| 1982 | 7 | #8462 |
| 1981 | 10 | #6449 |
| 1980 | 23 | #3534 |
| 1979 | 14 | #4898 |
| 1978 | 9 | #6526 |
| 1977 | 21 | #3512 |
| 1976 | 13 | #4691 |
| 1975 | 13 | #4658 |
| 1974 | 15 | #4084 |
| 1973 | 16 | #3825 |
| 1972 | 14 | #4138 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dewana a boy's or girl's name?
When was Dewana most popular?
How popular is the name Dewana?
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1936–1991