Dexter
Boy name · #692 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Dexter? In official American birth records, Dexter has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Dexter ranks #692 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 393 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #412, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 4,580 boys born in 2025 was named Dexter.
Babies named Dexter per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Dexter first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2012, when 842 boys were named Dexter — good for #361 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Dexter against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Dexter in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Dexter is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Dexter will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Dexter is most common
Geography matters for names, and Dexter is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Dexter is most common in MN (0.4 per 1,000), IN (0.4 per 1,000), MI (0.4 per 1,000), VA (0.4 per 1,000), MO (0.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.3 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Dexter is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Dexter
Statistically, parents drawn to Dexter tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Porter, Foster, Denver, Jagger, and Dorian.
PorterFosterDenverJaggerDorianEliezerGunnerZavier
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Dexter | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 393 | #692 |
| 2024 | 364 | #722 |
| 2023 | 380 | #699 |
| 2022 | 383 | #692 |
| 2021 | 554 | #531 |
| 2020 | 503 | #558 |
| 2019 | 638 | #465 |
| 2018 | 613 | #475 |
| 2017 | 686 | #447 |
| 2016 | 703 | #438 |
| 2015 | 755 | #412 |
| 2014 | 788 | #396 |
| 2013 | 784 | #382 |
| 2012 | 842 | #361 |
| 2011 | 753 | #384 |
| 2010 | 593 | #452 |
| 2009 | 486 | #542 |
| 2008 | 329 | #708 |
| 2007 | 257 | #832 |
| 2006 | 209 | #917 |
| 2005 | 211 | #870 |
| 2004 | 226 | #798 |
| 2003 | 201 | #857 |
| 2002 | 205 | #819 |
| 2001 | 229 | #752 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Dexter?
In official American birth records, the name Dexter first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Dexter a popular boy name?
Dexter ranked #692 among boys in 2025 with 393 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #412.
When was the name Dexter most popular?
Dexter peaked in 2012, when 842 American boys received the name (ranked #361 that year). Since 2012 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Dexter?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 4,580 newborn American boys was named Dexter. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.