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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Do you like my baby boy name?

87 replies

dais23 · 12/03/2025 18:37

Hi everyone!

I've been struggling to come up with a name for my baby boy, i have been set on Oliver for a while but it didn’t feel right. Last night me and my partner thought of the name Dexter, (Dex for a nickname)

Do you like the name Dexter?

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Balloonhearts · 12/03/2025 22:31

I think of the really naughty donkey on YouTube, ngl.

Ozmumofboys3 · 12/03/2025 22:28

Dexter is ok but far prefer Oliver but may be biased as I have one!

It's weird, Oliver is meant to be such a popular name but mine is the only in his year at school, in fact not sure I know of any others at his school 🤔. He's certainly not Oliver 'surname'.

Garlicgarlicgarlic · 12/03/2025 22:13

It's ok, but I wouldn't like it if pronounced without the 'r', like Dextah

ZiggyZowie · 12/03/2025 22:13

Yes

MedusaAndHerFavourites · 12/03/2025 22:12

I know a ten year old Dexter and he is wonderful!

Scrabbelator · 12/03/2025 22:09

My first thought was Dexter cattle.

mummysmagicmedicine · 12/03/2025 21:53

I love it, I know one who’s about 10 and goes by Dex and it’s so cool

DramaAlpaca · 12/03/2025 21:44

I quite like Dex, but not Dexter so much.

I love Oliver, though.

mmmarmalade · 12/03/2025 21:15

Dog

TinyMouseTheatre · 12/03/2025 21:04

MysteriousUsername · 12/03/2025 21:00

I've always liked it - maybe due to a teenage crush on Dexter Fletcher.

There was a queue which my teenage self really hoped I was at the front of! Grin

I think if you're going for Dexter it's a name that you'd really have to love. It makes me think of the serial killer too.

Oliver is a pleasant enough make but the popularity of it woukd put me off. DD had so many in her class that they were all know by both their first and last name in full as even using their first name and initial of their last name wasn't enough to distinguish them.

I did think for a while that naming your DS Oliver had been made compulsory here.

Theextraordinaryisintheordinary · 12/03/2025 21:01

Love Oliver
Dexter sounds a bit rough

MysteriousUsername · 12/03/2025 21:00

I've always liked it - maybe due to a teenage crush on Dexter Fletcher.

BuntyBeaufort · 12/03/2025 20:57

I like it, both in full and shortened to Dex.

Oliver is ok-ish but I hate the nn Ollie/Oli/Olly.

MeliusMoriQuamServire · 12/03/2025 20:55

Dexter/Dex - love it! And I don't think it's 'cute', in a sense that a 45 year old Dex would get 'awwwwws'. Dex maybe a bit similar to Alex - neither are cutesy names. Ollie/Olly is, though.

Don't like Oliver. I mean, it's nice enough, but a bit boring.

JanetareyouokareyouokJanet · 12/03/2025 20:48

Dexter is a great name!

HugoYorway · 12/03/2025 20:43

It's ok. He'll be Dex.

LuckySantangelo35 · 12/03/2025 20:43

BatchCookBabe · 12/03/2025 20:26

Yes, it's very cute!

Show quote history

@BatchCookBabe

is it really good for name to be “cute” though? Does a 45 year old male for example want a cute name?

choccytime · 12/03/2025 20:41

@DisforDarkChocolate is it Hannibal 😁

okydokethen · 12/03/2025 20:30

Dex is cute
Oliver is also a nice option

BatchCookBabe · 12/03/2025 20:26

dais23 · 12/03/2025 18:37

Hi everyone!

I've been struggling to come up with a name for my baby boy, i have been set on Oliver for a while but it didn’t feel right. Last night me and my partner thought of the name Dexter, (Dex for a nickname)

Do you like the name Dexter?

Yes, it's very cute!

saveforthat · 12/03/2025 20:24

Rivari · 12/03/2025 18:41

Not really, and definitely not shortened, it sounds like a dog name

Yes I know a few dogs called Dexter so it will always be a dog's name for me.

DisforDarkChocolate · 12/03/2025 20:22

My son is also named after a fictional serial killer.

Chuchoter · 12/03/2025 20:22

The only Dexter's I've met have been dogs it's quite a common name for a male dog apparently!

Jade520 · 12/03/2025 20:18

Dexter is fine but I love Oliver.

LuckySantangelo35 · 12/03/2025 20:14

Moreteaandchocolate · 12/03/2025 19:17

I love the name Dexter - it hits the sweet spot of familiar but not too popular and it’s not dated or too trendy. Good choice 👍
Oliver is lovely but he will be Oliver / Olly plus surname - there are just so many of them!

@Moreteaandchocolate

”Oliver is lovely but he will be Oliver / Olly plus surname - there are just so many of them!”

so what?