Dwayne is an English spelling of the Irish name Duane, from Ó Dubháin, which means "little dark one" or "descendant of the dark one". Actor and former wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is by far its most famous bearer, and singer Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. performs as Lil Wayne. The name was a top 100 choice in the 1950s and 1960s; it stood at number 537 in 2000 and has fallen to number 1565 in 2025.