Dewan first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Dewan has been for the last 48 years (from 1974 to 2021) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Dewan

A masculine Arabic name meaning "book" or "council".

Popularity of Dewan by gender

Based on the last 48 years of data, Dewan is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Dewan being male.

For the most recent data in 2021, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Dewan.

Year Male Count Female Count
2021 7 0
2020 5 0
2018 6 0
2017 9 0
2015 7 0
2014 8 0
2012 10 0
2011 11 0
2009 6 0
2008 9 0
2007 12 0
2006 10 0
2005 14 0
2004 11 0
2003 8 0
2002 14 0
2001 12 0
2000 16 0
1999 10 0
1998 12 0
1997 12 0
1996 11 0
1995 18 0
1994 15 0
1993 7 0
1992 18 0
1991 13 0
1990 13 0
1989 15 0
1988 18 0
1987 23 0
1986 18 0
1985 16 0
1984 5 0
1983 19 0
1982 15 0
1981 13 0
1980 20 0
1979 27 0
1978 20 0
1977 19 0
1976 12 5
1975 19 0
1974 12 0

The history of the first name Dewan

The name Dewan has its origins in the Persian language and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Persian word "diwan," which means a collection of poems or a council of ministers. The name is closely associated with the Mughal Empire, which ruled over large parts of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

During the Mughal era, the term "dewan" was used to refer to the chief minister or the head of the revenue department in the imperial court. It was a prestigious position, and those who held the title were considered among the most powerful and influential individuals in the empire. The name Dewan was likely adopted by those associated with this administrative role or by families seeking to align themselves with the Mughal nobility.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dewan can be found in the writings of the famous Persian poet, Hafez, who lived from 1315 to 1390 AD. In his collection of poems, known as the Divan-e Hafez, he mentions the word "dewan" several times, referring to the poetic assemblies or gatherings of poets and intellectuals.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Dewan. One of the most renowned was Dewan Amar Nath, an Indian poet and writer who lived from 1811 to 1876. He was a prominent figure in the literary circles of Punjab and is considered one of the founders of modern Punjabi literature.

Another significant figure was Dewan Bahadur Krishen Lal Bhalla, an Indian civil servant who lived from 1871 to 1940. He served as the first Indian Inspector General of Police in the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir and played a crucial role in the modernization of the state's police force.

In the realm of music, Dewan Motihar Pandit was a notable Indian classical vocalist who lived from 1905 to 1965. He was a celebrated exponent of the Khayal and Thumri styles of Hindustani classical music and is regarded as one of the greatest vocalists of the 20th century.

The name Dewan also has a connection to the world of sports. Dewan Mohinder Gill was an Indian field hockey player who competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. He was part of the Indian team that won the silver medal, contributing to the nation's rich legacy in the sport.

Finally, Dewan Ananda Kumar was an Indian lawyer and politician who lived from 1884 to 1954. He served as the President of the Indian National Congress, a major political party in India, from 1922 to 1923 and played a significant role in the country's struggle for independence from British rule.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Dewan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Dewan, please contact us.

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"Dewan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 6, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/dewan-meaning-and-history/.

"Dewan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/dewan-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 6 July, 2025

Dewan first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/dewan-meaning-and-history/.

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