Dex: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#4,897

among boys · ↓1,073 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Dex · -31% vs 2024

How common

1 in 85,404

boys born in 2025

Peak year

2016

43 babies

All-time total

658

#6,699 all-time among boys

First recorded

1952

in Social Security records

Dex popularity over time

658 babies have been named Dex since 1952, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	5	1	–	#3,864
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	–	–	–
1980s	79	8	–	#2,743
1990s	74	7	-6%	#4,029
2000s	46	5	-38%	#6,524
2010s	272	27	+491%	#2,796
2020s (to 2025)	182	30	+12%	#3,189

Where Dex is heading

A five-year projection from the recent trend in births per 1,000 boys (damped so it flattens over time), converted to babies at today's birth totals. The implied rank places that projection in the 2025 field. A projection, not a promise: real trends bend.

Year	Projected babies	Per 1,000 boys	Implied rank
2026	19	0.01	outside top 500
2027	19	0.01	outside top 500
2028	19	0.01	outside top 500
2029	18	0.01	outside top 500
2030	18	0.01	outside top 500

The story of Dex

Dex is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #4,897 in 2025 with 20 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1952, 658 American babies have been named Dex. Its peak came in 2016, when 43 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2010s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Dex stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Dex?

The median living Dex is about 10 years old; half are between 5 and 22. An estimated 600 people named Dex are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Dex year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	20	#4,897
2024	29	#3,824
2023	38	#3,189
2022	27	#4,015
2021	35	#3,316
2020	33	#3,358
2019	32	#3,511
2018	30	#3,624
2017	29	#3,698
2016	43	#2,796
2015	26	#4,006
2014	33	#3,319
2013	22	#4,361
2012	27	#3,822
2011	19	#4,860
2010	11	#7,198
2009	13	#6,524
2008	8	#9,203
2007	–	–
2006	6	#11,007
2005	6	#10,436
2004	–	–
2003	8	#8,042
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	5	#10,825
1995	6	#8,073
1990	14	#4,029
1985	18	#2,743
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Dex, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Dex?

The median living Dex is about 10 years old. Half of all living Dexs are between 5 and 22 years old.

How many people named Dex are alive today?

An estimated 600 people named Dex are alive in the United States, based on 658 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Dex in 2025?

Dex ranked #4,897 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 20 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Dex?

658 babies have been named Dex in the United States since 1952, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Dex most popular?

Dex peaked in 2016, when 43 newborns received the name.

Is Dex a boy or girl name?

Dex is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Dex rising or falling?

Dex is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Will Dex become more popular?

Dex is trending downward. If the recent trend holds, we project roughly 18 boys named Dex in 2030, which would rank outside the top 500. Forecasts assume the current trend continues and become less certain further out.

Names like Dex

Names that sound and feel close to Dex: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Dex with similar names → More names starting with D →