UK boy's name
Dwain
A masculine name of unknown origin but possibly derived from the Irish name Duán.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Dwain is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Dwain popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3744, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 6 births.
This profile covers 28 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 1996 to 2009. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 28 living people in the UK are called Dwain. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2010 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Dwain ranked #3744 for boys in England and Wales in 2009, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 6 boys were registered as Dwain.
- • About 28 living people in the UK are estimated to have Dwain as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3744
2009
Births in 2009
4
Latest year
Peak year
2001
6 births
Estimated living
28
2026
Meaning
What does Dwain mean?
The name Dwain is an English variant of the Welsh name Dwyain, which is derived from the Welsh word "dŵr" meaning "water" and the suffix "-ain" meaning "little". This suggests that the name may have originated as a nickname or descriptive term for someone who lived near a body of water or had some association with water.
The earliest recorded use of the name Dwain dates back to the late 16th century in England. It was relatively uncommon during this time period, likely due to its Welsh origins and the prevalence of more traditionally English names.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Dwain was Dwain Blaney, an English author and playwright who lived in the early 17th century. He is best known for his play "The Governor's Revenge" which was performed in London in 1636.
In the 18th century, the name Dwain appeared in the historical records of several families in the American colonies. Notable individuals from this time include Dwain Rutledge, a farmer and landowner in Virginia who was born in 1742, and Dwain Barton, a soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and was born in 1765.
As the 19th century progressed, the name Dwain remained relatively uncommon but continued to be used sporadically in various parts of the English-speaking world. One prominent individual with the name was Dwain Esper, an American filmmaker and producer who was born in 1892 and was known for his work in the early days of horror and exploitation cinema.
In the 20th century, the name Dwain gained some popularity, particularly in the United States. One of the most famous individuals with the name was Dwain Painter, an American baseball player who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1940s and 1950s. He was born in 1920 and had a successful career as a pitcher, appearing in two World Series.
Another notable figure with the name Dwain was Dwain Mallitz, an American businessman and entrepreneur who co-founded the successful software company PeopleSoft in 1987. He was born in 1946 and played a significant role in the development of human resources management software.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Dwain over time
The chart below shows babies named Dwain registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2009. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Dwain, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2009, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dwain by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Dwain was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3340 | 20 | 5 |
| 1990s | #2469 | 8 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Dwain
- Daniel 120,900
- Dylan 60,836
- David 37,852
- Dominic 20,480
- Declan 11,657
- Dexter 11,627
- Danny 8,434
- Dean 5,329
- Dillon 4,113
- Douglas 3,773
- Dominik 3,494
- Damian 3,486
FAQ
Dwain: questions and answers
How popular is the name Dwain in the UK right now?
In 2009, Dwain was ranked #3744 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Dwain most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 6 babies registered as Dwain in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Dwain?
A masculine name of unknown origin but possibly derived from the Irish name Duán.
How many people are called Dwain in the UK?
A total of 28 babies have been registered as Dwain across the 7 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.