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Dexter

Boy name · 314 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Dexter: 314 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 36 births in 2012.

Dexter has two main origins. Most commonly, it began as an occupational surname for a dyer of cloth, from the Old English *deag* meaning "dye." However, it also has a Latin root, meaning "right-handed" or "skillful" (the Latin *dexter*). The name gained fame through the fictional serial killer Dexter Morgan, the titular character of the novel and TV series, whose day job as a blood-spatter analyst played on the name's meaning. In a far lighter vein, it belonged to the genie in the 1960s sitcom *I Dream of Jeannie* and is the name of a beloved cartoon boy genius from the show *Dexter's Laboratory*. The Dexter shoe is a leading bowling brand, while the Dexter cow is a small, hardy breed from Ireland. Its sharp, modern sound has made it a consistently popular choice in Scotland since the early 2000s.