Dewanna
A girl's name of African origin with 727 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Dewanna peaked during the Baby Boom, when 30 babies received this name in a single year (1957). That era was defined by classic, post-war American naming, and Dewanna has since stepped out of the spotlight, giving it a vintage quality that many parents now find appealing.
Dewanna is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Dewanna is a girl's baby name of African origin, a creative variant of Devanna or Dewanna, combining the prefix De- with -wanna, a pattern common in African American naming from the 1970s and 80s. The prefix De- appears across a family of names like Deshawn, Dequan, and Delisha, suggesting individuality and distinction.
Dewanna gained sports visibility through DeWanna Bonner, the WNBA star who has played for teams including the Connecticut Sun. The name has an energetic, modern sound that carries both cultural heritage and athletic resonance.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Dewanna 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.
Within the African naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring African names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Dewanna’s linguistic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Dewanna has 51+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1930.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57 | #8760 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 125 | #6561 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 175 | #3932 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 208 | #2818 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 126 | #3281 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 25 | #4473 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 11 | #4365 | — |
The Story of Dewanna
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1957, Dewanna is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Girls named Dewanna are most likely born between 1947 and 1967.
How rare is Dewanna?
With 727 total births on record, Dewanna remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1930, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1960s with 208 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Dewanna by the numbers
- Would fill 15 school buses
- Meeting one Dewanna per day would take 2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(51 years, 1930–1997)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 8 | #10052 |
| 1996 | 7 | #10876 |
| 1993 | 12 | #7149 |
| 1992 | 10 | #8247 |
| 1991 | 9 | #8791 |
| 1990 | 11 | #7447 |
| 1989 | 10 | #7597 |
| 1988 | 13 | #5988 |
| 1987 | 10 | #6931 |
| 1986 | 11 | #6276 |
| 1985 | 5 | #11095 |
| 1984 | 13 | #5288 |
| 1983 | 6 | #9329 |
| 1982 | 11 | #6029 |
| 1981 | 22 | #3649 |
| 1980 | 24 | #3431 |
| 1979 | 16 | #4470 |
| 1978 | 11 | #5651 |
| 1977 | 15 | #4479 |
| 1976 | 21 | #3309 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dewanna a boy's or girl's name?
When was Dewanna most popular?
How popular is the name Dewanna?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1930–1997