Declining since 2013, #692 for boys today.
Popularity of Dexter since 1880
Babies named Dexter per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 75 |
| 1890s | 65 |
| 1900s | 87 |
| 1910s | 511 |
| 1920s | 856 |
| 1930s | 820 |
| 1940s | 1,456 |
| 1950s | 3,483 |
| 1960s | 4,902 |
| 1970s | 3,869 |
| 1980s | 4,288 |
| 1990s | 3,862 |
| 2000s | 2,576 |
| 2010s | 7,155 |
| 2020s | 2,577 |
Meaning & origin
Dexter has seen a notable trajectory in the United States since the Social Security Administration began tracking names in 1880. Its peak year was 2012, after which it entered a gradual decline, falling from its high rank. In 2025, it ranked 692nd, with a frequency of about 1 in every 4,346 births. The name is most popular in states like Nebraska, Arkansas, and Oregon. While its early use in the 19th century was modest, Dexter gained broader visibility in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, partly due to pop culture references. Its Latin root connotation of skillfulness and its crisp, two-syllable sound appeal to modern parents seeking a name that feels both classic and contemporary.
Dexter derives from the Latin word 'dexter' meaning 'right-handed' or 'skillful'. In Latin, 'dexter' also referred to the right side, which was considered auspicious. The name was later used as an occupational surname for a dyer, from Old English 'deag' meaning 'dye'. It has been used as a given name since the 19th century.
Where Dexter is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Dexter” around the world
Where Dexter lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
New Zealand
11
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Dex, Dec
Sibling names for Dexter
Names that share Dexter's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Clara, Violet, Hazel, Maeve, Ruby, Danetta, Lennyx, Averlee, Cybill, Rexanna
Brothers: Felix, Oscar, Silas, Jasper, Simon, Delano, Cutter, Destry, Lenox, Riker, Wellington, Canton, Chapman, Essex, Harvard, Knoxx, Mattox, Roper, Sterlin, Breckon, Chapin, Maylon, Deadrick, Dandy, Gamble, Huckston, Jaxxton, Nyxon, Revere, Seaver, Trammell
Names like Dexter
Names whose popularity has moved with Dexter's over the last 50 years.
