Dewayne

Meaning of Dewayne

Dewayne, pronounced duh-WAYN, is a phonetic respelling of Dwayne, itself an Anglicized form of the Irish surname Duane, which traces back to the Gaelic given name Dubhán—literally “little dark one,” from dubh, meaning “black” or “dark.” In the United States, Dewayne’s popularity curve suggests a mid-century crest followed by a gradual descent: it first entered the Social Security records in appreciable numbers during the 1940s, reached its statistical zenith in the 1950s, and has since slipped from the low 300s to the upper 800s in annual rank. The spelling gained traction among parents who favored a straightforward sound-to-symbol match, a strategy common in post-war naming trends. Contemporary associations range from retired NFL lineman Dewayne White to software engineer Dewayne Spinner, underscoring the name’s working-class, technician’s ethos rather than celebrity flash. Overall, Dewayne offers a familiar, quietly traditional choice with Celtic roots and a no-nonsense American spelling.

Pronunciation

English

• Pronunced as duh-WAYN (/dəˈweɪn/)

• Duane
• Dwayne
• Dwain
• Dewayne
• Duwane