Dexter

Dexter - A very unique male name

Dexter appeared on the charts for the first time in 1913 on position #1138. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Dexter and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Dexter? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Dexter. The baby boy name Dexter was given to 346 baby boys in 2025, ranking #696 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 4,238 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Dexter peaked in popularity 58 years ago in 1968 on position 262.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Dexter, 1-5?

Dexter is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Dexter is currently topping the baby name charts in Nebraska at position #346 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #1,107.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Dexter is where you live.

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Dexter origin and meaning

Latin, via an English surname

'Right-handed, skilful' — from Latin dexter, 'right, favourable'; also an occupational surname for a dyer

Dexter was an English surname — for a dyer, and from the Latin word for right-handed — long used as a first name in America since 1913. The TV antihero Dexter Morgan gave it an edge around its 2012 peak, from which it has fallen.

Attested etymology

Dexter is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Dexter, pop culture references for the name Dexter and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Dexter

We've found the following names that sound similar to Dexter, sorted by popularity.

Destry / Desiderio / Doctor /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Dexter

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Dexter a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Dexter?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

DEKS-ter · /ˈdɛkstər/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Dexton — Modern elaboration

Nicknames: Dex

Famous bearers

• Dexter Gordon — American jazz saxophonist (1923–1990) Historical
• Dexter King — Son of Martin Luther King Jr. and civil-rights figure (1961–2024) Contemporary
• Dexter Morgan — Fictional forensic analyst and serial killer in the TV series Dexter (Fictional, 2006) Fictional

Style

SurnameOccupationalClassic

Why parents choose it

Parents pick Dexter for the punchy nickname Dex and a clever, slightly retro character.

Worth knowing

• The fictional Dexter Morgan is a strong association for many people