Dwight Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Dwight originates from Old English, meaning brave or hardy, and has evolved from historical forms such as Dwiht and Duyt. It gained popularity in the United States in the 19th century, especially after the mid-20th century, due to famous figures. The name carries connotations of strength and reliability, with no direct biblical relevance.
The name Dwight is most popular in North Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Dwight has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling 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, 'Dwight' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 272nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 206th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 158th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 264th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 435th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 979th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1796th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6378th out of 9107 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4234th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6745th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 16870th out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Dwight' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Dwight"
Pronunciation
/dwaɪt/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Dwight is derived from the Old English name 'Dwiht', which means 'brave' or 'hardy'. It is also thought to be influenced by the Old French name 'Duyt', which was a diminutive of 'Duy', meaning 'beloved'.
Meaning
Brave, hardy, beloved
Language Evolution
Dwiht (Old English), Duyt (Old French), Dwight (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Dwight gained popularity in the United States during the 19th century, particularly after the 1940s due to the influence of notable figures like Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Variants & Derivatives
Dwite, Dwightt, Dewey
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, the name Dwight is often associated with strong leadership and reliability, partly due to its historical connections and notable bearers.
Famous People
Dwight D. Eisenhower, Dwight Howard, Dwight Yoakam
Explore More Dwight Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Dwight"
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 "Dwight"
"Dwight" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 272nd of 7545 | 6,717 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 206th of 6773 | 12,019 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 158th of 7552 | 35,120 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 264th of 10718 | 12,923 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 435th of 16616 | 7,310 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 979th of 24088 | 2,881 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1796th of 23106 | 1,050 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 6378th of 9107 | 24 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 4234th of 12526 | 162 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 6745th of 19264 | 105 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 16870th of 27321 | 29 |
Regional Popularity of "Dwight" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
12.43% 176th/1416 |
25.09% 346th/1379 |
16.61% 393rd/2366 |
25.31% 289th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
10.48% 162nd/1546 |
15.23% 237th/1556 |
10.07% 237th/2353 |
13.19% 204th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
6.92% 154th/2227 |
7.94% 193rd/2430 |
4.63% 132nd/2853 |
7.28% 202nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
8.51% 250th/2937 |
8.15% 284th/3483 |
6.31% 222nd/3518 |
9.59% 388th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
11.32% 417th/3685 |
9.14% 409th/4475 |
7.20% 374th/5194 |
9.34% 590th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
20.03% 918th/4582 |
19.44% 1004th/5164 |
11.75% 859th/7313 |
18.37% 1371st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
41.47% 1652nd/3984 |
44.57% 2000th/4487 |
24.14% 1647th/6822 |
42.19% 2648th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Dwight" 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 "Dwight"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Dwight" 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.