I have looked a couple of places and the meaning of the name [name_u]Dexter[/name_u] seems to vary. On nameberry it says “dyer; right handed” but I have also seen “skillful” and “favorable”. Does anyone know the true meaning?!
Thanks!
I had this same issue and I was told to use behind the name. They say [name_u]Dexter[/name_u] means “one who dyes”.
Many words have multiple meanings. [name_u]Dexter[/name_u] has a root in common w/dexterity or dexterous. One connotes right- or left-handedness, the other, skillfulness.
The reason nameberry has multiples is because it has multiple meanings. [name_u]Dexter[/name_u] as in dexterous is latin. It basically does mean skillful (like being ambidextrous means you are skillful with both hands). I don’t know why it would have a meaning as being right-handed since dexter is the “skill” part and not the “right” part of the word for right-handedness. I also do not know the origins of it meaning “dyer,” but the latinate origin definitely is the “skillful” meaning.
Well I like to believe it means skillful! I am very much about ne meanings so I would like it to have a nice meaning
There is a website (though I don’t recall the name) that will give you the meaning of a name in each language where the name is used. In the case of [name_u]Dexter[/name_u], a quick search showed that its Latin meaning is “on the right hand side” or “skillful.” Its English meaning (because its English usage was exclusively as a surname) is “one who dyes.”
Many names have multiple meanings, often as the result of having a history of usage in more than one language/culture.