Dewayne

Dewayne is a masculine name that gained popularity primarily in the United States during the mid-20th century. It's a variant spelling of Duane, which derives from the Irish surname Ó Dubháin, meaning "descendant of Dubhán" (where Dubhán comes from "dubh" meaning "dark" or "black").

The distinctive spelling with "way" in the middle emerged as part of the creative naming trend in America, particularly in Southern states. Dewayne saw its peak popularity in the 1950s-1970s but has gradually declined since.

The name carries a strong, straightforward quality and continues to be used, though less frequently than in previous decades. Many bearers of the name go by the nickname "Wayne" in everyday life.

Dewayne is also given to girls.

Pronounced duh-WAYN.

As of October 2026, Dewayne ranked #12315 in US births in 1988 SSA, peaked at #3946 in 1938.