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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Right-handed or skillful (Latin); also independently from an English surname meaning 'dyer of cloth'
- Origin
- Latin; also English (surname)
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- DEKS-tur
Dexter is a bold, clean, modern boy's name with a crisp two-syllable sound, pronounced DEKS-tur. It comes from Latin, where it means right-handed or skillful, and it also turns up independently as an English surname meaning 'dyer of cloth'.
Meaning & Origin of Dexter
Meaning: Right-handed or skillful (Latin); also independently from an English surname meaning 'dyer of cloth'.
Origin: Latin; also English (surname).
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Dexter
DEKS-turIPA /ˈdɛkstər/
Popularity of Dexter
Dexter peaked at #262 in 1968, when 760 babies were given the name. In 2024 it ranked #720 with 364 babies, so it's less common than it once was but still in regular use.
Names Like Dexter
Names with a similar style, era, origin or popularity history.
FAQ
What does the name Dexter mean?
Right-handed or skillful (Latin); also independently from an English surname meaning ‘dyer of cloth’. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Dexter?
Dexter is pronounced DEKS-tur (IPA: /ˈdɛkstər/).
Is Dexter a popular name right now?
Dexter peaked at #262 in 1968 and is ranked #720 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Dexter Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Dexter, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Dexter? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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