Dexter
Boy name · #692 in 2025 · Uniqueness 65/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Dexter scores 65 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Dexter is most common
Geography matters for names, and Dexter is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Dexters were CA (30), FL (29), TX (20), MI (17), NC (17). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 65/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.