Dewi as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Dewi

What is the meaning of the name Dewi ?

The baby name Dewi is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced Welsh: /ˈdɛwi/ (DEH-wee); Indonesian/Malay: /ˈdewi/ or /ˈdəwi/ (DEH-wee).

Dewi is Indonesian, Welsh in Origin.

Dewi carries dual origins. In Welsh, it is the traditional hypocoristic of Dafydd, the Welsh form of David (from Hebrew Dawid, “beloved”). In Indonesia and other Sanskrit-influenced languages, Dewi is a direct borrowing of Sanskrit Devi, meaning “goddess” or “divine lady.” Consequently, the name is masculine in Wales but overwhelmingly feminine across Indonesia, Bali, and Java.

As Dewi Sant (Saint David), it names the patron saint of Wales, anchoring usage from the Middle Ages and encouraging periodic revivals with Welsh cultural pride; today it remains familiar in Wales. English and Welsh variants include Dafydd and the Anglicized Dewey (also a surname). In Southeast Asia, Dewi is extremely popular, often appearing in theophoric compounds such as Dewi Sri. Related forms include Devi, Dewy, and compound honorifics; the masculine counterpart is Dewa. The name thus spans meanings from “beloved” to “goddess,” depending on lineage.