At a Glance
- Meaning
- Likely 'dog' in its old sense of 'inferior/unfit for humans' (as in dog rose, dogfish), referring to the tree's bitter berries; a rival theory ties it to 'dag' (skewer), since the hard wood was used for skewers and daggers
- Origin
- English (compound, 'dog' + 'wood')
- Gender
- Unisex
- Pronunciation
- DAWG-wuud
Dogwood is an English (compound, 'dog' + 'wood') unisex name meaning “likely 'dog' in its old sense of 'inferior/unfit for humans' (as in dog rose, dogfish), referring to the tree's bitter berries; a rival theory ties it to 'dag' (skewer), since the hard wood was used for skewers and daggers”. It appears in 2 of our baby name lists.
Meaning & Origin of Dogwood
Meaning: Likely 'dog' in its old sense of 'inferior/unfit for humans' (as in dog rose, dogfish), referring to the tree's bitter berries; a rival theory ties it to 'dag' (skewer), since the hard wood was used for skewers and daggers.
Origin: English (compound, 'dog' + 'wood').
A common claim: Dogwood got its name because the bark was once used to wash mangy dogs. Actually: This folk story isn't well supported; most etymologists connect 'dog-' here to its old sense of 'inferior/coarse' (as in dog rose, dogfish), referencing the tree's bitter berries, though a rival theory ties it to 'dag' (skewer).
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Dogwood
DAWG-wuudIPA /ˈdɔːɡˌwʊd/
Popularity of Dogwood
Dogwood doesn’t appear in U.S. Social Security birth records, which include every name given to at least five babies in a year — so it’s rare in the U.S.
Lists That Include Dogwood
- 200+ Botanical Baby Names for Nature-Loving Parents
- 175+ Herb and Garden Plant Baby Names for Earthy Parents
Similar Names
Sycamore · Spruce · Hickory · Ginger · Calanthe · Wisteria
