feldaw welton jennifer
Candi Ruman
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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
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