It’s been worn by a fictional serial killer, an animated boy genius and the incomparable Cary Grant. How can we help but love the retro Dexter?
Thanks to Kayt and Natalie for suggesting today’s Name of the Day.
Perhaps the best description of Dexter’s popularity through recent decades is steadily obscure. As of 2007, he ranked #824. While he’s appeared in the US Top 1000 most years, the highest he’s ever climbed was #262 in 1968. (One possible explanation for the spike? Dexter was one of Martin Luther King Jr.’s sons.) Most years, however, this name was used sparingly.
But if you’re thinking of Hollywood’s Golden Age, it’s tough to overlook 1940′s The Philadelphia Story. Based on a successful Broadway play, the story follows wealthy socialite Tracy Lord on the eve of her second marriage – just as her first groom returns. Katharine Hepburn played the headstrong Tracy; Cary Grant played CK Dexter Haven, Tracy’s first love. Hijinks ensue, and sure enough, Tracy and Dex live happily ever after. After watching Grant, it’s difficult to think of Dexter as dorky.
The name also boasts a starbaby pedigree and some serious indie cred. Elvis Costello and Diana Krall chose this moniker for one of their sons: Dexter Henry Lorcan. (His twin is Frank Harlan James.) Diane Keaton used Dexter, too – for her daughter.
But Dexter’s detractors cite Dexter’s Lab. Boy genius Dexter toiled from 1995 to 2003 on Cartoon Network while his dim sister Dee Dee and archrival Mandark foiled his plans. As for the serial killer? Jeff Lindsay created Dexter Morgan, first in novels and now in a Showtime original series. He earns his living as a Miami police expert, but moonlights as a serial killer, bringing vigilante justice to those who escape the reaches of the law.
Dexter is also a place name, surname and a breed of cattle. But to us, the bearer who tips the scales in favor of cool is the towering Long Tall Dexter, a legendary jazz saxophonist who scraped the ceilings at 6’5. Born Dexter Gordon, he lived in Denmark for many years – in fact, he’s godfather to Danish-born Lars Ulrich of Metallica. In 1986, Gordon was Oscar nominated for his portrayal of a fictional jazz saxophonist in ‘Round Midnight.
The name’s meaning is positive, too. While some it probably emerged as an occupational surname for dyers, it meshes with the Latin dexteritatem, or skillful. In Middle English, the term became dester, which referred to the right hand, but also meant clever. The words dexterity and dexterous endure in current usage, and give the name a strong underpinning.
We like Dexter’s x-factor, too. Think of Jolie-Pitt boys – Maddox, Pax and Knox, chart-topping Alexander, friendly Felix and starts-with-X Xavier.
Despite slangy put-downs like poindexter, we find this name edgy and appealing. If Henry, Oscar and Elliot are already oft-repeated on your local playground, Dexter represents a logical leap – a little bit different, but similar in feel. And we love the short form Dex. This is one to consider if you’re looking for something that’s a bit daring, but boasts a long history of use.
I like my boys stuffy, geeky and/or moldy. Dexter fits Geeky/Stuffy pretty easily and yes, I really like him. Dex makes me think briefly of “Dexy’s Midnight Runners” & “Come on Eileen” but that thought makes me smile for my long ago teenage years.
Dexter’s jazzy, snappy and feels happy. Smart too. If he didn’t feel so surnamey to me, he’s be on my own list. But I really like Dexter and would admire it on anyone else’s little boy! He’s aces!
Thank you! I just adore Dexter. If my in-laws hadn’t thoroughly beat him into the ground, I think my husband would consider him for a second boy option. As silly as it sounds, I hesitate to use him as a second boy option because I want to use my maiden name for a second boy’s middle name, and I abhor the sound of Dexter Calder. I want to meet more Dexters, though. It’s so so cool!
Glad to hear Dexter is getting a warm reception so far! We wouldn’t use it because we already have an “ex” in Alexei, but it’s dashing. Calder, however, did make my short list for baby #2 – but then it was because of my love of Alexander Calder, and I thought that might be equally weird and matchy. And hey, she’s a girl.
Speaking of dashing, and vaguely related to Dexter, Cary Grant’s daughter just had a son – named Cary Benjamin Grant. http://www.celebrity-babies.com/2008/08/jennifer-grant.html Guess we’re all overlooking the fact that he started out as Archibald.
I *never* forget Archibald Leach turning into Cary Grant! Archibald was my favorite name when I was 6 years old. I had three teddy bears, two alligators and a real hamster named Archibald at the time. My mother thought I was nuts!
“A Fish Called Wanda” had an Archibald Leach (played by my beloved John Cleese) in it.. One of my top 5 movies of all time.
I really love this name.
I never really thought about it until my younger sister mentioned that a girl in her school (Daisy) has a little sister named Scarlett and yes a baby brother named Dexter – i fell in love with it immediately!
I don’t like Dexter. I think of Dexter’s Lab when I hear it and I don’t go naming kids after cartoon characters. I’d probably save it for a dog or a cat if I ever decided to use it. I knew a Dexter in 9th and 10th grade and he was pretty geeky, nice boy though. It isn’t a bad name, It’s just too nerdy to me. It also reminds me of the Jak and Daxter video games.
I heard about Diane Keaton’s daughter too. I was like “WTF?! Dexter is not a girl’s name!” Boys names don’t belong on girls. It’s horrible! Whoever started that trend is really messed up in the head. No offense to anyone who likes trendy names, but I can’t stand a majority of them. They are way overrated. I have a feeling that Dexter will probably become trendy soon if it already isn’t.
I really love Dexter, on someone else’s child. My husband and I have seen every episode of the TV show about the serial killer Dexter and so have all of our friends and family, so we could never use it. Hubby loves the show so much he doesn’t think we could even use it for a dog, the association is that strong! But I will always have a soft spot for Dexter
And Dex is just the best nn ever!
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