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Dallas

♂ Boy

Pronounced DAL-us /ˈdæləs/High

Meaning: From the meadow dwelling; from the valley placeMedium

In 30 seconds: A place-name-turned-given-name with roots in both Scotland and the American frontier. Dallas is big, bold, and unapologetically American — a name that conjures wide open skies and confident energy.
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Origin MediumScottish Gaelic, English
MeaningFrom the meadow dwelling; from the valley place
U.S. rank (2025)#238 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births1,475 boys (0.08% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 71,188

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202518802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Dallas is a Scottish place name from the village of Dallas in Moray, Scotland, derived from the Scottish Gaelic dail (meadow, haugh) and eas (waterfall), meaning 'meadow by the waterfall.' The surname Dallas was borne by notable American figures including U.S. Vice President George Mifflin Dallas (1792–1864), for whom Dallas, Texas, may have been named.

Dallas became a given name in the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries, associated with the spirit of the American West. The long-running TV series Dallas (1978–1991) kept the name in the national consciousness, and it continues to be used for both boys and girls, with male use predominating.

Did you know? The city of Dallas, Texas, may have been named after commodore Alexander James Dallas or vice president George Mifflin Dallas — historians still debate which — making the name's American identity layered with political history.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name — Dallas — etymology notesU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

DallisDallace

Nicknames

DalDally

Famous Bearers

  • ★George Mifflin Dallas (1792–1864)
    14th Vice President of the United States (1845–1849), for whom Dallas, Texas, may have been named.

If you like Dallas…

Austin— Texan city-name with the same big American West character
Houston— fellow Texas city-name with the same frontier boldness
Colton— western-flavoured surname name with the same rugged American energy
Wyatt— frontier surname name evoking the same wide-open American spirit

Frequently Asked

What does the name Dallas mean?

Dallas is a Scottish Gaelic place name meaning 'meadow by the waterfall,' from dail (meadow) and eas (waterfall).

How do you pronounce Dallas?

It is said DAL-us /ˈdæləs/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Dallas a boy or girl name?

Dallas is used predominantly as a boys' name, though it also appears for girls.

How popular is Dallas?

Dallas has been a steady U.S. top 500 name for boys and appears occasionally in girls' rankings as well.