Meaning & Origin
A surname originating as an occupation for a female dyer.
Dexter is a boy's and girl's baby name of Latin origin, from the Latin dexter meaning 'right-handed' or 'skillful' — in Latin, 'right' connoted dexterity, good fortune, and skill. As a surname, it was an occupational name for a female dyer of cloth in Old English.
Dexter has a smart, slightly nerdy-cool energy that the Showtime series Dexter (2006–2021) amplified considerably — the forensic scientist protagonist gave it an unexpectedly edgy appeal. With over 36,000 U.S. births, it has deep roots. The lab-coat intelligence of its Latin meaning suits the name perfectly.