The first name Dwight
A boy’s name from English.
Pronounced /ˈdwaɪt/ 1 syllable Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
English origin
Probably from a Middle English female name Diot, a pet form of Dionysia, the feminine form of Dionysius.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 4 boys were named Dwight, making it the 4,275th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1999, with 9 births (#1,383).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Dwight with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Dwight at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 46 boys born in the United States were named Dwight, the 2,774th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1953, when 2,698 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Dwight
44 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- James Dwight DanaAmerican mineralogist, scientist and zoologist (1813-1895)
- Dwight SchultzAmerican actor (born 1947)
- Dwight Filley Davis Sr.American politician and tennis player (1879–1945)
- Dwight PhillipsAmerican long jumper (born 1977)
- Dwight YoakamAmerican country singer-songwriter, actor, and film director, born 1956
- Dwight McNeilEnglish association football player (born 1999)
- Dwight Lyman MoodyAmerican evangelist (1837–1899)
- Dwight GayleEnglish association football player, born 1989
- Dwight LodewegesDutch association football player and manager, born 1957
- Dwight PowellCanadian basketball player (born 1991)
- Dwight FryeActor (1899-1943)
- Dwight TiendalliDutch association football player (born 1985)
More English boys’ names
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.
- What is the origin of the name Dwight?
- 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, 4 boys born in England and Wales were named Dwight, ranking 4,275th. Its peak was 1999, with 9 births.
- Is Dwight a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 78,907 US babies named Dwight since 1880 were boys.
- When was Dwight most popular?
- 1953 in the United States, when 2,698 babies were named Dwight, its highest rank at 122nd.
- How do you pronounce Dwight?
- Dwight is /ˈdwaɪt/, one syllable.
- Is Dwight also a surname?
- Yes. Dwight is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.