Dexter

Last seen for girls in 1988 at #11,798 · #692 for boys in 2025, 393 births
Given to boys 99.4% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1968 · 760 births
Debut · boys
6 births
In top 100 · boys
never
of 146 years
Total births · boys
36,582
since 1880

Dexter over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Dexter has never cracked the top 200 here.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201972peak #262, 1968boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025—#692393
2024—#722364
2023—#699380
2022—#692383
2021—#531554
2020—#558503
2019—#465638
2018—#475613
2017—#447686
2016—#438703
2015—#412755
2014—#396788
2013—#382784
2012—#361842
2011—#384753
2010—#452593
2009—#542486
2008—#708329
2007—#832257
2006—#917209
2005—#870211
2004—#798226
2003—#857201
2002—#819205
2001—#752229
2000—#755223
1999—#757211
1998—#617296
1997—#605292
1996—#586307
1995—#554336
1994—#546356
1993—#470447
1992—#476451
1991—#411554
1990—#377612
1989—#336688
1988#11,7985#334643
1987—#317665
1986#8,5237#334587
1985#9,3076#424410
1984—#459336
1983—#569220
1982#10,5175#577221
1981—#527255
1980#9,0956#530263
1979—#533252
1978—#486278
1977#9,6525#488278
1976#9,2845#477275
1975—#466298
1974—#408366
1973—#391391
1972#8,2925#352484
1971#8,3245#333549
1970#7,0706#295698
1969#4,72310#309606
1968#5,1478#262760
1967—#361436
1966#4,8668#362430
1965—#336507
1964—#384428
1963#5,8916#385425
1962—#378454
1961#6,5675#388422
1960—#379434
1959#5,5666#396403
1958#5,4086#355464
1957#4,9187#342487
1956—#370401
1955—#356411
1954—#396326
1953#5,6735#414290
1952—#422270
1951—#438238
1950—#481193
1949—#563144
1948—#538152
1947—#543153
1946—#516155
1945#4,0256#507139
1944—#508143
1943—#487160
1942—#519140
1941—#466161
1940—#568109
1939—#58197
1938—#583101
1937—#63186
1936—#73667
1935—#70274
1934—#69776
1933—#70373
1932—#62690
1931—#75667
1930—#65489
1929—#63992
1928—#65292
1927—#73379
1926—#64296
1925#4,0287#66991
1924#2,51414#98451
1923#2,26416#70684
1922#2,95811#637103
1921#3,16410#73780
1920#3,3409#68088
1919—#66387
1918#4,2916#73376
1917#3,7137#77366
1916#4,4175#72469
1915—#69870
1914—#80243
1913—#69643
1912—#81629
1911—#82416
1910—#92812
1909—#71415
1908—#9469
1907#1,8216#63416
1906—#75211
1905#1,9315#69912
1904——
1903—#1,0096
1902—#7949
1901—#7279
1900——
1899——
1898—#1,1215
1897—#9426
1896—#1,1015
1895—#7958
1894—#7878
1893—#57212
1892—#9566
1891—#7008
1890—#8147
1889—#7897
1888—#64810
1887—#6319
1886——
1885—#9365
1884—#57011
1883—#7996
1882—#57611
1881—#56310
1880—#8096
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Dexter was already there! It came in at #809, and was given to 6 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1885–1886, when fewer than 6 boys a year got the name.

Where Dexter is popular in 1972

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedMNIllinois: #397 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 4,137 boysILWisconsin: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedWIMichigan: #550 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 9,842 boysMINew York: #381 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 4,353 boysNYMassachusetts: #346 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 6,278 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedIAIndiana: #448 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 6,939 boysINOhio: #453 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 7,398 boysOHPennsylvania: #564 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 13,194 boysPANew Jersey: #500 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 7,648 boysNJConnecticut: #307 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 3,568 boysCTCalifornia: #996 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 21,448 boysCAUtah: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedNEMissouri: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedMOKentucky: #374 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 5,307 boysKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedWVVirginia: #272 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 2,384 boysVAMaryland: #349 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 4,717 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedNMKansas: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedKSArkansas: #204 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 1,247 boysARTennessee: #303 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 3,212 boysTNNorth Carolina: #196 for boys · 33 births · 1 in 1,261 boysNCSouth Carolina: #198 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 1,209 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Dexter, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #376 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 3,779 boysOKLouisiana: #231 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 1,249 boysLAMississippi: #102 for boys · 41 births · 1 in 486 boysMSAlabama: #157 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 864 boysALGeorgia: #89 for boys · 102 births · 1 in 397 boysGAHawaii: #237 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,209 boysHITexas: #429 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 3,669 boysTXFlorida: #251 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 1,870 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Georgia#89 · 1 in 397
  2. Mississippi#102 · 1 in 486
  3. Alabama#157 · 1 in 864
  4. North Carolina#196 · 1 in 1,261
  5. South Carolina#198 · 1 in 1,209

Best ever in a state: #60 in Georgia, 1968.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Georgia#891021 in 397
Mississippi#102411 in 486
Alabama#157321 in 864
North Carolina#196331 in 1,261
South Carolina#198181 in 1,209
Arkansas#204121 in 1,247
Louisiana#231251 in 1,249
Hawaii#23751 in 1,209
Florida#251271 in 1,870
Virginia#272141 in 2,384
Tennessee#303101 in 3,212
Connecticut#30751 in 3,568
Massachusetts#34661 in 6,278
Maryland#34951 in 4,717
Kentucky#37451 in 5,307
Oklahoma#37651 in 3,779
New York#381281 in 4,353
Illinois#397201 in 4,137
Texas#429291 in 3,669
Indiana#44861 in 6,939
Ohio#453111 in 7,398
New Jersey#50061 in 7,648
Michigan#55071 in 9,842
Pennsylvania#56461 in 13,194
California#99671 in 21,448
Alaska———
Arizona———
Colorado———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Idaho———
Iowa———
Kansas———
Maine———
Minnesota———
Missouri———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
Washington———
West Virginia———
Wisconsin———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Dexter
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 30 spots since 2024 (#722 → #692)
  • 134 spots since 2020 (#558 → #692)
  • 280 spots since 2015 (#412 → #692)
  • Biggest jump: 384 spots in 1893 (#956 → #572)
  • Biggest drop: 366 spots in 1885 (#570 → #936)
Rise & fade · boys
88 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1968 at #262 (760 births)
  • Births halved by 1974, 6 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 1,000 for 139 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 139 yrs · run 1905–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 2,253
  • Highest: 1 in 2,253 boys born in 2012 were named Dexter (0.04%)
  • Latest: 1 in 4,346 boys born in 2025 (0.02%)
  • Its best rank, #262 in 1968, was only 1 in 2,287 (0.04%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 2010s
  • 19.6% of all boys named Dexter (7,155) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s75#563 (1881)#702
1890s65#572 (1893)#865
1900s87#634 (1907)#784
1910s511#663 (1919)#766
1920s856#637 (1922)#708
1930s820#581 (1939)#667
1940s1,456#466 (1941)#522
1950s3,483#342 (1957)#397
1960s4,902#262 (1968)#354
1970s3,869#295 (1970)#423
1980s4,288#317 (1987)#441
1990s3,862#377 (1990)#540
2000s2,576#542 (2009)#785
2010s7,155#361 (2012)#421
2020s2,577#531 (2021)#649

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Dexter in 1972

girls
#8,292
5 births · 1 in 304,249 girls
boys
#352
484 births · 1 in 3,350 boys

Top girls' names in 1972

  1. #1Jennifer63,600
  2. #2Michelle29,285
  3. #3Lisa27,543
  4. #4Kimberly26,282
  5. #5Amy25,873
  6. #6Angela23,561
  7. #7Melissa22,494
  8. #8Stephanie16,890
  9. #9Heather16,320
  10. #10Nicole15,755
  11. #8,292Dexter5

Top boys' names in 1972

  1. #1Michael71,393
  2. #2Christopher52,172
  3. #3James47,063
  4. #4David46,322
  5. #5John43,158
  6. #6Robert43,013
  7. #7Jason37,423
  8. #8Brian36,306
  9. #9William30,510
  10. #10Matthew22,928
  11. #352Dexter484
More about 1972

girls

1,521,244 girls got a published name in 1972; 1 in 304,249 of them was named Dexter, which outranked 14.2% of the 9,666 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.6% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Dexter
  1. #7,292Zerlina6
  2. #7,292Zeta6
  3. #7,292Zoann6
  4. #8,292Dexter5
  5. #8,292Aarona5
  6. #8,292Abigale5
  7. #8,292Adabel5

Tied with 1,374 names at #8,292; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1971
Risers
  1. ↑ 5,804Camisha#6,619 → #815
  2. ↑ 3,921Catina#4,123 → #202
  3. ↑ 1,842Cherilyn#2,665 → #823
  4. ↑ 1,789Chasity#2,542 → #753
  5. ↑ 1,694Keena#2,542 → #848
Fallers
  1. ↓ 517Shayla#836 → #1,353
  2. ↓ 428Raina#798 → #1,226
  3. ↓ 280Kendall#742 → #1,022
  4. ↓ 275Alycia#951 → #1,226
  5. ↓ 255Charisse#727 → #982

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,621,608 boys got a published name in 1972; 1 in 3,350 of them was named Dexter, which outranked 93.9% of the 5,751 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 26.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Dexter
  1. #349Clyde487
  2. #350Israel486
  3. #351Milton485
  4. #352Dexter484
  5. #352Cody484
  6. #354Cecil475
  7. #354Rudy475
  8. #356Arnold472

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1971
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,755Demond#3,146 → #391
  2. ↑ 1,286Cade#2,279 → #993
  3. ↑ 905Vidal#1,526 → #621
  4. ↑ 855Damond#1,784 → #929
  5. ↑ 849Kareem#1,254 → #405
Fallers
  1. ↓ 413Rich#914 → #1,327
  2. ↓ 401Monroe#947 → #1,348
  3. ↓ 317Laura#990 → #1,307
  4. ↓ 309Von#976 → #1,285
  5. ↓ 309Westley#998 → #1,307

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1972 →