Dewitt

A boy's name of Dutch origin with 7,210 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

A surname from Dutch.

Dewitt is a boy's baby name of Dutch origin, from the Dutch surname De Wit, meaning 'the white one' — a reference to fair hair or complexion. It was borne by several prominent Dutch-American families and transferred to use as a first name in the 19th century.

DeWitt Clinton, the early 19th-century Governor of New York and driving force behind the Erie Canal, made this a name associated with American ambition and civic achievement. It carries the sturdy, Dutch-American heritage of old New York.

EtymologyShow more

Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Dewitt is rooted in the Dutch tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1880 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.

With 7,210 recorded U.S. births, Dewitt has clearly resonated across communities. Names that reach this level of adoption typically carry a sound that works in multiple accents and cultural contexts — a kind of phonetic universality.

At a Glance

7,210

Total births

Since 1880

1921

Peak

161 births

1880

First recorded

144 years of data

Compare Dewitt with another name

Popularity Over Time

Dewitt has 142+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.

First appeared: 1880Peak: 1921 (161 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Dewitt
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	28	#10178	▼
2010s	71	#9591	▼
2000s	102	#7452	▼
1990s	150	#4098	▼
1980s	235	#2358	▼
1970s	285	#1773	▼
1960s	474	#1145	▼
1950s	721	#868	▼
1940s	843	#702	▼
1930s	941	#617	▼
1920s	1,402	#521	▲
1910s	1,035	#476	▲
1900s	309	#390	▼
1890s	351	#307	▲
1880s	263	#346	—

The Story of Dewitt

A Greatest Generation name

Peaking in 1921, Dewitt is a name steeped in history. Boys named Dewitt are most likely born between 1911 and 1931.

How rare is Dewitt?

Dewitt has 7,210 recorded births in the U.S. — a well-established name with deep roots.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 1,402 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Dewitt by the numbers

Would fill 150 school buses
Meeting one Dewitt per day would take 19.8 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(142 years, 1880–2023)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Dewitt
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2023	7	#9987	-1 (-12.5%)
2022	8	#9188	0
2021	8	#9029	+3 (60.0%)
2020	5	#12508	-2 (-28.6%)
2019	7	#9997	0
2018	7	#9929	+2 (40.0%)
2016	5	#12684	-5 (-50.0%)
2015	10	#7633	0
2014	10	#7690	+3 (42.9%)
2013	7	#9910	+2 (40.0%)
2012	5	#12737	-3 (-37.5%)
2011	8	#8960	-4 (-33.3%)
2010	12	#6781	+4 (50.0%)
2009	8	#9197	-4 (-33.3%)
2008	12	#6855	0
2007	12	#6736	+6 (100.0%)
2006	6	#11004	-3 (-33.3%)
2005	9	#7802	-2 (-18.2%)
2004	11	#6651	+2 (22.2%)
2003	9	#7396	-4 (-30.8%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dewitt a boy's or girl's name?

Dewitt is primarily a boy's name.

When was Dewitt most popular?

Dewitt reached its peak popularity in 1921 with 161 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Dewitt?

Dewitt is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 7,210 babies in the U.S. since 1880. Its peak was in 1921.

Explore More

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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2023