Find out how popular the first name Dwane has been for the last 44 years (from 1974 to 2017) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Dwane by gender

Based on the last 44 years of data, Dwane is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2017, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Dwane.

The history of the first name Dwane

The given name Dwane is believed to have originated from the Gaelic language, which was spoken by the ancient Celts of Ireland and Scotland. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the name Duane, which itself is derived from the Irish Gaelic name "Dubhán," meaning "little dark one" or "little swarthy one."

The earliest known usage of the name Dwane can be traced back to the 16th century in Ireland, where it was likely used as a diminutive or pet form of the more common Gaelic names like Donal or Dougal. It was not uncommon for Irish families to use shortened or modified versions of traditional names during this period.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Dwane was Dwane O'Donnell, an Irish chieftain who lived in the late 16th century. He was a member of the powerful O'Donnell clan and played a significant role in the Nine Years' War, a conflict between the Irish chieftains and the English crown.

Another notable historical figure with the name Dwane was Dwane MacCarthy, an Irish soldier and officer who served in the Irish Brigade of the French Army during the 18th century. He was born in 1690 and fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745.

In the 19th century, Dwane Mahony was an Irish-American politician who served as the Mayor of San Francisco from 1856 to 1857. He was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1820 and later immigrated to the United States, where he became involved in local politics.

Another individual with the name Dwane was Dwane Powell, an American football player who played as a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1970s and 1980s. He was born in 1949 and played for several teams, including the Los Angeles Rams and the Oakland Raiders.

Lastly, Dwane Casey is a contemporary American professional basketball coach who has been the head coach of the Detroit Pistons since 2018. He was born in 1957 and has also coached teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Toronto Raptors, leading the latter to their first NBA championship in 2019.

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 Dwane was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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