Dwaine Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Dwaine originates from the Irish surname 'Ó Dubháin', meaning 'descendant of Dubhan', which translates to 'dark' or 'swarthy'. Over time, it evolved from Ó Dubháin to Dubhan and then to Dwaine. The name has connections to Irish heritage and has gained notable usage in the 20th century. It does not have a biblical background. While it may be seen as vintage, it remains distinctive in modern contexts and has been carried by notable individuals.
The name Dwaine is most popular in Nebraska, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Dwaine has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Dwaine' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1740th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 849th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 793rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1141st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2729th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 7371st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 11007th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Dwaine' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Dwaine"
Pronunciation
/dweɪn/
Origin
Irish
Etymology
The name Dwaine is derived from the Irish surname 'Ó Dubháin', which means 'descendant of Dubhan'. The name Dubhan itself means 'dark' or 'swarthy'.
Meaning
dark, swarthy
Language Evolution
Ó Dubháin, Dubhan, Dwaine
Historical Usage
The name Dwaine gained popularity in the 20th century, especially in the United States, where it was often used as a first name.
Variants & Derivatives
Duane, Dwayne
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Dwaine is viewed as somewhat vintage, often associated with the mid-20th century, but it retains a sense of uniqueness.
Famous People
Dwaine Chambers - British sprinter, Dwaine McDonald - American football player
Explore More Dwaine Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Dwaine"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Dwaine"
"Dwaine" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1740th of 7545 | 309 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 849th of 6773 | 1,023 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 793rd of 7552 | 1,627 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1141st of 10718 | 837 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2729th of 16616 | 357 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 7371st of 24088 | 147 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 11007th of 23106 | 61 |
Regional Popularity of "Dwaine" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
50.42% 714th/1416 |
- |
96.75% 2289th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
32.28% 499th/1546 |
- |
72.67% 1710th/2353 |
58.37% 903rd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
27.12% 604th/2227 |
49.71% 1208th/2430 |
37.36% 1066th/2853 |
29.33% 814th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
38.99% 1145th/2937 |
40.97% 1427th/3483 |
40.05% 1409th/3518 |
36.35% 1470th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
64.56% 2379th/3685 |
- | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Dwaine" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Dwaine"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Dwaine" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.