Dwain
Dwain is a boy's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
Dark, little dark one, or descendant of Dubhán.
Origin and history
Dwain is an English variant spelling of the Irish and Gaelic name Duane or Dwayne, derived from the surname Ó Dubháin. Historically, it stems from a Gaelic root meaning dark or little dark one. In the United States, it enjoyed moderate popularity in the mid-20th century but is rarely given to newborns today.
Popularity in the United States
7,581 babies in the United States have been named Dwain since 1880. It ranks #1395 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1898.
States where it is most popular
- TX (17.9 %)
- CA (10.5 %)
- OH (9.9 %)
- IL (8.2 %)
- MO (4.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 144 |
| 1920-1930 | 597 |
| 1930-1940 | 977 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,064 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,698 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,456 |
| 1970-1980 | 764 |
| 1980-1990 | 412 |
| 1990-2000 | 221 |
| 2000-2010 | 115 |
| 2010-2019 | 104 |
| 2020-2029 | 29 |
Famous people named Dwain
- Dwain Chambers: Athlete, Sprinter
- Dwain Esper: Film Director, Producer
Fun facts
- Dwain developed as an alternative English phonetic spelling of Dwayne and Duane.
- The name experienced its peak popularity in the United States between the 1930s and 1960s.