Declining since 2022, #4,857 for boys today.
Popularity of Dex since 1952
Babies named Dex per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 79 |
| 1990s | 74 |
| 2000s | 46 |
| 2010s | 272 |
| 2020s | 182 |
Meaning & origin
Dex is a modern short form of Dexter, an English surname-turned-first-name. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1952, but remained rare for decades. Its usage surged in the 1990s and 2000s, reaching its peak rank in 2016. As of 2025, Dex ranks 4857 with approximately 1 in 85,404 newborns receiving the name. The name has been falling in popularity since 2022, though it remains more popular than in its early years. Dex has no strong regional ties, with its top states being too few to indicate a specific geographic pattern. The name's modern, punchy sound and its association with the popular TV character Dexter Morgan have contributed to its appeal as a standalone given name.
Dex originated as a nickname for Dexter, an English surname derived from the Old English word 'deag', meaning 'dye'. The surname indicated someone who dyed cloth. By the 20th century, Dexter had become a given name, and Dex emerged as a shortened form, gaining popularity as an independent name, particularly in the 1990s and 2000s due to media exposure.
Sibling names for Dex
Names that share Dex's style, for a brother or sister.
