Character names in fiction are often important signifiers of something about their personality, motivations, or narrative arc. Dexter takes that to a whole other level, with the eponymous lead's name being a Latin word that means right hand, or else the normal, regular hand. Therefore, Dexter's name is meant to mask his sinister actions in normality. Also both the beginning of his and Debra's first names, plus their family name, refer to the two laws of De Morga, an inference in propositional logic which basically amounts to one thing that cannot live without the other. Pretty much sums up their relationship. Then there's all the other Latin gags, like Lumen meaning lamplight (she's even darker than Dexter), Miles meaning soldier (ironically he wants Dexter to kill someone for him), and Vince, short for Vincent; Vincentius in Latin means winner (nobody sleeps with him).
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
