Dexter: Meaning, origin and popularity

Pronounced DEK-ster · 2 syllables

Variant of Dyster. Also partially from Latin dexter (“right (handed)”).

How popular is Dexter?

Dexter was the #692 name in the US in 2025, given to 393 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 47% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 2010.

Babies named Dexter in the US by five-year period, relative to its peak (around 2010).

Half of US adults named Dexter are older than 49; most are between 22 and 75. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)

Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.

Dexter is pronounced DEK-ster.

Dexter was the #692 name in the US in 2025, given to 393 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 47% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 2010.

Half of US adults named Dexter are older than 49. Most are between 22 and 75.