Is the baby name Dexter going to be too popular after One Day?

[Hea1991]

We had semi-decided on the name Dexter for our DS (who is now 1 week overdue) and the Netflix adaption of One Day cemented it for me (loved the nn Dex) but part of me is also worried that it’s going to become stupidly popular now for the same reason. I don’t want him to become one of 5 Dexters in his school year for example - there’s 90 kids a year in our local school.

what do you think?

Dexter has been popular for years... i know 5 under 9 Dexters!

Well there was the long running and very popular series about Dexter the serial killer too…

I know two Dexters under three. Of you like it, go for it.

I know 2 dogs and one Uni aged Dexter

I would be a shame to put off a name just because of its potential to be popular because of a TV show.
Even if Dexter does become popular and he is one of 5 in a class (which is really unlikely) it won't traumatise him.

Dexter has been popular since the serial killer show surely?

Even having read the One Day book, seen the original film and been aware of (but not yet watched) the Netflix show, I still hear Dexter and think...

I suspect like a lot of Netflix releases that have been hugely successful it'll be everywhere for 15 minutes and then largely forgotten about, so yes maybe a bump in popularity for the name right now but not longer term, and I don't think the association with the name will last.

The serial killer show ran over about 8 years I think so much longer to sink into the public psyche (and the fact the name itself was the show title).

I think if people are heavily influenced by TV they’re more likely to be put off by the serial killer than encouraged by One Day! I’ve never met one but also it is a popular chain of estate agents in these parts so that possibly puts off locals?? That said it’s a cool name, if you love it, go for it. You can’t ever predict what names he’s going to have at school eg DD’s class has none of the top 5 baby names for girls that year but 2 girls called Ines. Not a single Oliver in DS’s class but I used to take him to a baby group where I’m not kidding a third of the class were called Quinn!

In the latest available statistics (2021), Dexter was ranked 133rd, with just 427 babies called Dexter in the whole of England and Wales. For context, each of the top 3 names had more than 4000 and there were 4525 baby boys called Noah (in first place).

So don't be put off a name you love (Dexter is a great name, btw) just because a few mumsnetters know a few of them. It might increase slightly in popularity because of 'One Day' but that really doesn't matter.

Dexter is quite a popular name for a dog. I actually know 3 labradors and one great dane called Dexter. Maybe I attract them.

It’s never going to end up 5 in a class, popular names now are not anywhere near as popular as they used to be, so even with those you’d be unlikely to get two in a class (although there’s always pockets of names of course). E.g Noah was given to 0.7% of babies in 2021, back in the day it used to be more like 4% of babies given the most popular name. I also think a lot of people are put off dexter due to the show ‘Dexter’.

I would think of Dexter's Laboratory, Dexter Fletcher, Dexter (serial killer show) before One Day, none would put me off the name though, and I do like the shortened Dex.

And although Dexter was a serial killer in the show, he was still a likeable character 😁

It depends on what your view on too popular is. At its current position (or what it was in 2021 when we last had a name data release in England and Wales) of #133 would be too popular for me anyway. Especially given that it's coming down from a previous peak in popularity. But that might not be too popular for you, and I can't imagine this Netflix series making a huge impact. Names only tend to rise in popularity when they're ripe for a peak in popularity anyway, and Dexter has already has its peak recently.

It's worth noting that name popularity isn't what it used to be either. In 2021 0.72% of boys were given the most popular name of Noah. In 1996. In 1996 1.6% of boys were named the most popular name, Jack. I can only extrapolate that it was worse in our generation, so more duplication of names.

Name trends are also very localised. Names which are popularity at a multicultural inner city school will be very different to names which are popular in a rural farming village school. And sometimes weird clusters happen. There was a poster recently saying there were four Vincents in her son's class - which is a name similar in popularity to Dexter at the moment. Statistically shouldn't happen but sometimes does. You can name your child a name which only two children in the country had that year, but the other one could share a classroom with your child. Equally, you can name you child Noah and Olivia and never meet any others.
https://names.darkgreener.com/#dexter

Interesting that Dexter (TV series) was 2006-2013 and that coincides with the rise in popularity of the name. It peaked in 2013 and has declined in popularity since then. Although even at its peak was still only a very small proportion overall, as PPs have pointed out.

I doubt it it just a name it's not like every child born this month will be a Dexter and even if they are it's not that many in great scheme of things

I don’t know any Dexters and I have a 2 yr old and a 7 yr old. One of the school mums has a son named Dax. It’s a bit odd but it fits so well with her other kids names and I just got used to it!

Dexter the serial killer definitely first thing that comes to mind, my friend calls her dog dexter after him because he murders all her shoes. Dex is the slang name of the drug dexamphetamine which is an adhd drug

I think that most people will think serial killer over One Day which I’ve only heard of on here.

My son is in a class with only two other children; one of them has the same name as him.

it really doesn’t matter. Use the name you love.

Dexter is a great name and I personally don’t know any in my kids’ classes or years (and they are in 3 different schools and different age groups). Maybe it depends where you live?

It's a name more widely known as the eponymous serial killer hit series and this book came out nearly 20 yrs ago, so if it were going to be popular I'd imagine that's when it would have been.

Going against the grain but yes I think it could become much more popular. Some names like Ava and Ruby are around for 10+ yrs going up and down slightly

It's a nicknamey name like leo theo jaxon etc
It's fresh sounding and not 100% american
It has a good nickname
It's a boy and man name
Its not associated with any other era

Going against popularity
Wont be a European/ international hit eg Zayn as no Spanish or religious overlap

I know two kids, three dogs and one Guinea pig called Dexter. Great name!
Also, popular after the serial killer drama I recon. I haven’t heard of one day.

I know 2 dogs too. Very popular dog name.

I would like to add that Dexter the Guinea pig is a really cool dude. So don’t let this put you off.

Too popular for what?