Dwight
Probably from a Middle English female name Diot, a pet form of Dionysia, the feminine form of Dionysius.
Every Dwight since 1880 — 78,907 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Dwight
Dwight is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,774 in 2025 with 46 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 78,907 American babies have been named Dwight. Its peak came in 1953, when 2,708 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Dwight stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Dwight year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 46 | #2,774 |
| 2024 | — | — | 54 | #2,510 |
| 2023 | — | — | 61 | #2,296 |
| 2022 | — | — | 57 | #2,447 |
| 2021 | — | — | 70 | #2,083 |
| 2020 | — | — | 82 | #1,817 |
| 2019 | — | — | 77 | #1,921 |
| 2018 | — | — | 93 | #1,690 |
| 2017 | — | — | 94 | #1,686 |
| 2016 | — | — | 99 | #1,620 |
| 2015 | — | — | 103 | #1,570 |
| 2014 | — | — | 129 | #1,342 |
| 2013 | — | — | 133 | #1,300 |
| 2012 | — | — | 136 | #1,287 |
| 2011 | — | — | 138 | #1,253 |
| 2010 | — | — | 142 | #1,244 |
| 2009 | — | — | 168 | #1,099 |
| 2008 | — | — | 142 | #1,227 |
| 2007 | — | — | 165 | #1,106 |
| 2006 | — | — | 161 | #1,094 |
| 2005 | — | — | 152 | #1,084 |
| 2004 | — | — | 195 | #888 |
| 2003 | — | — | 177 | #928 |
| 2002 | — | — | 162 | #973 |
| 2001 | — | — | 186 | #863 |
| 2000 | — | — | 215 | #773 |
| 1995 | — | — | 303 | #588 |
| 1990 | — | — | 493 | #446 |
| 1985 | 10 | #6,584 | 502 | #366 |
| 1980 | 6 | #9,406 | 517 | #350 |
| 1975 | 6 | #8,276 | 673 | #286 |
| 1970 | — | — | 1,026 | #231 |
| 1965 | 6 | #5,994 | 1,227 | #203 |
| 1960 | 11 | #3,979 | 1,720 | #181 |
| 1955 | 6 | #5,363 | 2,159 | #142 |
| 1950 | 5 | #5,511 | 1,812 | #146 |
| 1945 | — | — | 1,753 | #126 |
| 1940 | — | — | 456 | #262 |
| 1935 | — | — | 475 | #242 |
| 1930 | — | — | 542 | #233 |
| 1925 | — | — | 470 | #262 |
| 1920 | — | — | 412 | #273 |
| 1915 | — | — | 337 | #263 |
| 1910 | — | — | 55 | #332 |
| 1905 | — | — | 35 | #347 |
| 1900 | — | — | 59 | #267 |
| 1895 | — | — | 22 | #419 |
| 1890 | — | — | 24 | #358 |
| 1885 | — | — | 30 | #309 |
| 1880 | — | — | 12 | #541 |
Famous people named Dwight
- Dwight D. Eisenhower Politician · 1890–1969
- Dwight Schultz Actor · b. 1947
- Dwight F. Davis Politician · 1879–1945
- Dwight L. Moody Religious figure · 1837–1899
- Dwight Yorke Soccer player · b. 1971
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dwight mean?
Probably from a Middle English female name Diot, a pet form of Dionysia, the feminine form of Dionysius.
How popular is the name Dwight in 2025?
Dwight ranked #2,774 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 46 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Dwight?
78,907 babies have been named Dwight in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Dwight most popular?
Dwight peaked in 1953, when 2,708 newborns received the name.
Is Dwight a boy or girl name?
Dwight is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Dwight rising or falling?
Dwight is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Dwight?
Well-known people named Dwight include Dwight D. Eisenhower (politician), Dwight Schultz (actor), Dwight F. Davis (politician).