Given name
Dwaine
“a dark or swarthy man”
Dwaine is a variant of Duane. One interpretation is “a dark or swarthy man.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Dwaine is a variant of Duane. One interpretation is “a dark or swarthy man.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1916. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Dwaine through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,362
- 4,362 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1959
- 112 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −48%
- Cooling
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 8 in 2024. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for boys was 112 in 1959. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,636 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Dwaine, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Dave
“Beloved” · “darling”
>99% boys
Wayde
“to cross the river ford”
>99% boys
Blane
Blane is a surname.
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Darrel
“one who is dearly loved”
>99% boys
Andree
“manliness” · “virility”
93% boys · 7% girls
Dan
“he judged”
97% boys · 3% girls
Ernie
“one who is sincere and determined; serious”
>99% boys
Dwight
“a white-or blonde-haired man”
>99% boys