Dwight

Meaning: Its source is Dionysios, a Greek name meaning "Dedicated to Dionysos."

Source Forms: Dionysios

Popularity: The name Dwight ranked 934th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 257th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name has fluctuated in use, it has been quietly present throughout the last century.

Narrative: An intermediate form was the Middle English nickname Diot, which was short for Dionysia, the latinized female form of the original Greek name.

Dionysos, also known as Bacchus, was the Greek god of wine and revelry. The theatre was under his special protection as well.

In modern thought, Dionysos symbolizes spontaneity and instinct, in contrast to Apollo, the god of wisdom, who stands for science and intellect.

Arts and Music

Dwight Myers
- Heavy D. (see list of Nicknames of Musicians)

Leadership

Dwight David Eisenhower (born 1890, died 1969)
Supreme Allied Commander in World War II; 34th President of the U.S.
- U.S. President, 1953-61 (see list of Presidents of the United States)
- Commanded Allied forces in Europe, 1943-45 (see list of Miscellaneous Military Leaders)
Dwight Moody (born 1837, died 1899)
American evangelist.
- Founded Northfield Seminary for girls, Mount Hermon for boys, and the Moody Bible Institute (see list of Religious Leaders)
Dwight Sterffensen
- CEO of Fortune 500 company Merisel (see list of 1996 Fortune 500 Company CEOs)

Miscellaneous

Dwight David Eisenhower (born 1890, died 1969)
Supreme Allied Commander in World War II; 34th President of the U.S.
- National Cowboy Hall of Fame (see list of National Cowboy Hall of Fame)
- 1944, 1959 Time Magazine Man of the Year (see list of Time Magazine's Man of the Year Honorees)

Sports

Dwight Gooden
American baseball player.
- 1984 National League Rookie of the Year (see list of National League Rookies of the Year)
- 1985 National League Cy Young Award winner (see list of National League Winners of the Cy Young Award)
- 1985 Associated Press Athlete of the Year (see list of Associated Press Athletes of the Year)
Dwight Stephenson
American football player.
- Elected to the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1998 (see list of Professional Football Hall of Fame)