Duane is a distinctive and unique given name of American origin. It was created by combining two popular names of the early 20th century: Duan, a short form of Duane from Scottish origins meaning "dark-haired," and Wayne, which means "cart maker" in English. The result is a name that has been used independently since the mid-20th century. While not extremely common, Duane has been consistently present in U.S. Social Security records since its introduction, with peaks of popularity during the 1950s and 1960s. Today, it remains an appealing choice for parents seeking a less ordinary name for their child.
"Duane appears to have been quite popular from the mid-20s through the late 30s and early 40s, with a peak of 31 births each in both 1937 and 1938. However, its usage has significantly declined over time, with fewer than 10 births per year occurring since 1969."