Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Dexter
BoyEnglish, Old English· “dyer”
- Meaning
- dyer
- Origin
- English, Old English
- Pronunciation
- DEHK-stur
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #693
- US babies 2025
- 393
- Best rank
- #262 (1968)
- Peak year
- 2012
Meaning and origin of Dexter
Dexter is an English and Old English name that means “dyer”.
Dexter comes from an English occupational surname for a dyer of cloth, from a Middle English word for someone who dyed cloth. It also matches the Latin dexter, meaning "right" or "skillful", the source of the word dexterous, a connection many parents enjoy. As a first name Dexter has a long, quiet history and has recently come back into fashion, partly through its appearances in television and film. The jazz saxophonist Dexter Gordon is a notable bearer. It sounds clever and cool. Dex is the natural nickname.
Popularity over time
Dexter has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 139 different years. Its best national rank was #262 in 1968, and the most babies received it in 2012, when 842 were named Dexter. In 2025, 393 babies were named Dexter, and it ranked #693 nationally. That is 48% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #680 in 1920, #481 in 1950, #530 in 1980, #755 in 2000, #452 in 2010, and #693 in 2025. Of the 36,582 US boys named Dexter since records began, 20% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 4,902 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Kellan, Landyn, Kolton, Kamden, and Kellen.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Dexter ranked highest in Nebraska, Minnesota, and Oregon.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Dexter is usually pronounced DEHK-stur, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with D and ends in “-er”.
Middle names for Dexter
A few middle names that flow with Dexter: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Dexter
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Lists that include Dexter
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dexter mean?
Dexter is an English and Old English name that means “dyer”.
What is the origin of the name Dexter?
Dexter has English and Old English roots. Dexter comes from an English occupational surname for a dyer of cloth, from a Middle English word for someone who dyed cloth.
Is Dexter a popular name?
Yes. Dexter ranked #693 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Dexter a boy or girl name?
Dexter is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Dexter?
Dexter is usually pronounced DEHK-stur. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings