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Dexter - too popular? Opinions.

30 replies

snowchick1977 · 10/10/2012 09:31

I'm 39 weeks and this is the only name we like, as we have 2 other ds, who used up our favourite names.

Any opinions welcome good or bad....also, got no idea for a middle name which goes well, again, any opinions gratefully received.

TIA

OP posts:
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PedanticPanda · 10/10/2012 09:34

I don't know any dexters, and I think it's a great name. Although I live in Scotland and don't know any Noah's, Oscar's, Felix's, etc but according to mn they are really popular too.

Gwennan · 10/10/2012 09:40

No, Dexter is not too popular - it ranks at number 78 in 2011. This means it was given to 833 baby boys. It's just about as popular as Bobby, Gabriel, Cameron, Blake, Stanley, and Kian. You might encounter another boy in his class with the same name; you might not. It's not so popular that he's likely to be one of four with the same name in school but he'll probably come across others with his name. But if you've noticed lots of baby Dexters mentioned in your local paper's birth announcements or among your other children's peers, you might want to steer clear just in case. That is, of course, if popularity bothers you!

For what it's worth, I like own name a lot but I'm taking a postgrad course at the minute and, in a class of about 20, there are 4 of us with the same name! :( And a few of my course-mates are are men, which means nearly 1 in 3 of the girls is a "Gwennan" (not my real name).

Personally, for me, Dexter is too trendy for my own tastes but the fact it ranks in the top 100 means it's a well-liked name.

I would pair it with a more traditional middle name. For instance:
Dexter Matthew
Dexter Joshua
Dexter Samuel
Dexter Charles
Dexter Hugo

Gwennan · 10/10/2012 09:41

Sorry, that should read my own name...

RightsaidFreud · 10/10/2012 09:41

LOVE the name Dexter. But I'm a massive fan of the tv show, so slightly biased.

YouMayLogOut · 10/10/2012 09:44

If you both like it, go for it! :)

Dexter Kyle
Dexter John
Dexter Zachary
Dexter William
Dexter George
Dexter Samuel
Dexter Jerome
Dexter Callum
Dexter Fergus
Dexter Caleb
Dexter Edwin
Dexter Richard
Dexter Joel
Dexter Nicholas
Dexter Miles
Dexter Adam
Dexter Kieran
Dexter Liam

Practicalpam · 10/10/2012 09:45

Sorry but all the Dexter's I know are dogs!!
Also would you feel comfortable knowing you had been named after a serial killer from a long forgotten TV series??

Gwennan · 10/10/2012 09:53

There's also Dexter's Laboratory...

WildWorld2004 · 10/10/2012 10:02

When i hear the name dexter i think serial killer.

PedanticPanda · 10/10/2012 10:03

It's not just a name from a tv series:

Dexter Blackstock (born 1986), English football player
Dexter Dalwood (born 1960), artist based in London
Dexter M. Ferry (1833?1907), American businessman from Michigan
Dexter M. Ferry, Jr. (1873?1959), American politician from Michigan
Dexter Fletcher (born 1966), British actor
Dexter Gordon (1923?1990), jazz tenor saxophonist
Dexter Holland (born 1965), lead singer of The Offspring
Dexter Horton (1825?1904), founder of the first bank in Seattle
Dexter Vines, American comic book artist and inker

RightsaidFreud · 10/10/2012 10:12

Practical Long forgotten tv show?? Still going strong, season 7 is airing in the USA at the moment!

hk78 · 10/10/2012 10:19
  1. serial killer
  2. dex dexter from dynasty.
derekthehamster · 10/10/2012 10:25

I first heard the name about 10 yrs ago, and wasn't sure about it. It's now more popular (but not over popular) and it's much easier on the ear.

2 Gabriels in my son's class - but only 1 Tom! (No Jack's or Jake's either) So popularity might depend on where you live.

JennaMoroney · 10/10/2012 10:39

Serial killer (handsome one, but still).

I think it is a bit brangelina. it may sound 'cool and trendy' to your ears right now but it's going to sound like wayne one day.

MoonHare · 10/10/2012 13:41

I know of one little Dexter (19 mth) but I don't think it's an especially popular name, as Gwennan has said. You might meet another but I doubt there'd be 2 in his class.

bigbluebump · 10/10/2012 13:52

Quite popular but not overly so (not like a top 10 name like Oliver, Jack or Harry!). I like it. I also like Quentin and Xavier which have a similar 'feel'.

pigletpower · 10/10/2012 14:57

Our Dexter Miles is 7 so born before the TV series.Never met another one round these parts-Hurrah! Funnily enough nobody has ever mentioned the show. Love the name and it really suits him.

foofooyeah · 10/10/2012 15:00

I like it .... but will always remind me of a black bull

MrsJohnDeere · 10/10/2012 15:01

Popular but not at the Alfie/Jack/Charlie/Harry level. 2 out of 100 pupils at the Dcs school.

ilovetermtime · 10/10/2012 15:05

I only know one Dexter in real life, but I'm afraid that it also screams 'serial killer' to me too!

OwlLady · 10/10/2012 15:08

call your baby what you want to call him/her and sod everyone else

StrangeGlue · 10/10/2012 15:09

I don't think its very popular and does that really matter anyway?

I like it.

PrettyPrinceofParties · 10/10/2012 15:19

I've met several dogs called Dexter too. Also met several doggy Alfies, Rubys and even a few Jacks. It's also my surname. The name originated in Shepshed, Leicestershire and means cloth/wool dyer. It was on that worst jobs in history program that Tony 'Baldrick' Robinson presented.

PickledFanjoCat · 10/10/2012 21:24

Dogs are always called human names now.

Vast swathes of the population don't watch dexter anyway. That would be a really spurious reason not to name a child your favourite name.

Metronomy · 11/10/2012 09:46

This name is massively on the rise. Here in South London, I know many under 2 years! It's a cute name though; kind of geeky, yet cool.

ValiumQueen · 16/10/2012 12:30

Incredibly sexy serial killer. I would love to use this name, but DH has said no.