Dexter
Meaningdyer · English
- US rank
- #692
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #262 in 1968
393 babies were named Dexter in the US in 2025. It has dropped 134 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1905–2025
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Dexter you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Dexter
Dexter Gordon
American jazz saxophonist (1923–1990)
Choose Dexter and your child shares a first name with Dexter Gordon, an American jazz saxophonist. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Dexter, like who?” Dexter Gordon's Wikipedia article is available in 45 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Dexter Gordon on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Albert Kok at English Wikipedia Note User since renamed their en:Wikipedia account to User:Albert_Kok~enwiki, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 4,346 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Dexter, 393 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Dexter would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryDexter has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Dexters, and counting.
- Best yearIts best year was 1968, when it reached #262.
- Then vs nowDexter is 2.0× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 8,811 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 4,346.
- TrendDexter has slipped 134 places over the last five years and now sits at #692. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedDexter is most popular in Nebraska, where it ranks #335, followed by Oregon (#474) and Minnesota (#477). It's in the top 1,000 in 28 states.
- MeaningIn English, Dexter means “dyer”. Our records link it to English and Latin roots.
About the name Dexter
Dexter is a boy name of English and Latin origin meaning “dyer”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with D and ending in “-ter”. US birth records list Dexter for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 142 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1968, when it ranked #262 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #692, with 393 babies.
Origin:English namesLatin names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 7.2 | 139,276 girls |
| 1910s | 1.6 | 606,061 girls |
| 1920s | 5.5 | 181,488 girls |
| 1940s | 0.5 | 2,173,913 girls |
| 1950s | 1.2 | 826,446 girls |
| 1960s | 2.1 | 473,934 girls |
| 1970s | 1.6 | 609,756 girls |
| 1980s | 1.9 | 529,412 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 68 | 14,601 boys |
| 1890s | 57 | 17,510 boys |
| 1900s | 64 | 15,618 boys |
| 1910s | 74 | 13,426 boys |
| 1920s | 78 | 12,850 boys |
| 1930s | 77 | 12,922 boys |
| 1940s | 99 | 10,064 boys |
| 1950s | 170 | 5,874 boys |
| 1960s | 259 | 3,868 boys |
| 1970s | 232 | 4,312 boys |
| 1980s | 230 | 4,354 boys |
| 1990s | 197 | 5,080 boys |
| 2000s | 129 | 7,751 boys |
| 2010s | 380 | 2,630 boys |
| 2020s | 248 | 4,024 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Dexter
What does the name Dexter mean?
Dexter means “dyer” in English.
What is the origin of the name Dexter?
Dexter has English, Latin roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Dexter a boy or girl name?
Dexter is a boy name.
How popular is the name Dexter?
Dexter ranked #692 for US boys in 2025, given to 393 babies. Its best year was 1968 (#262).