Find out how popular the first name Dexter has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Dexter by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Dexter is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Dexter being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 378 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Dexter.

The history of the first name Dexter

The name Dexter is derived from the Latin word "dexter" meaning "right-handed" or "fortunate." It originated in ancient Rome, where the term was used to describe someone who was skilled with their right hand or considered lucky. The name gained popularity during the Roman Empire and was often given to boys born under auspicious circumstances.

In the early days of Christianity, the name Dexter was associated with the Latin phrase "dextra Domini," meaning "the right hand of the Lord." This connection led to the name being adopted by some Christian families as a way to express their religious beliefs. It was particularly common in regions where Latin was widely spoken, such as Italy and parts of Western Europe.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Dexter can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus, who mentions a man named Dexter who lived in the 1st century AD. Another notable figure from ancient times was Dexter, the Bishop of Syracuse, who lived in the 5th century and is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.

During the Middle Ages, the name Dexter remained in use but was relatively uncommon compared to other popular names of the time. However, it experienced a resurgence in the Renaissance period, particularly in Italy and other parts of Europe influenced by classical Roman culture.

One of the most famous individuals named Dexter was Dexter Wedmore (1613-1683), an English politician and member of the House of Commons during the 17th century. Another notable bearer of the name was Dexter Morgan (1862-1944), an American industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Morgan Corporation.

In the 20th century, the name Dexter gained popularity in the United States, where it was sometimes used as a shortened form of the name Dexter James. One of the most well-known individuals with this name was Dexter Gordon (1923-1990), an influential American jazz saxophonist and composer.

Other notable figures named Dexter include Dexter Holland (born 1965), the lead singer of the American punk rock band The Offspring, and Dexter Fowler (born 1986), an American professional baseball player who won a World Series championship with the Chicago Cubs in 2016.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Dexter was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Dexter, please contact us.

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