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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
These names share Dexter’s style, era or origin.
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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