Rising since 1989, #238 for boys today.
Popularity of Dallas since 1880
Babies named Dallas per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 234 |
| 1890s | 28 | 297 |
| 1900s | 79 | 413 |
| 1910s | 263 | 1,971 |
| 1920s | 376 | 3,768 |
| 1930s | 312 | 4,237 |
| 1940s | 311 | 4,358 |
| 1950s | 374 | 4,064 |
| 1960s | 294 | 3,236 |
| 1970s | 575 | 3,659 |
| 1980s | 1,020 | 5,653 |
| 1990s | 3,227 | 10,443 |
| 2000s | 2,030 | 8,651 |
| 2010s | 4,267 | 11,995 |
| 2020s | 2,726 | 8,224 |
Meaning & origin
Dallas is a Scottish surname that entered the American naming pool as a given name, closely associated with the major Texas city. Its origin lies in the place name Dallas in Moray, Scotland, likely meaning 'meadow dwelling' or 'water meadow.' As a gender-neutral name, Dallas has seen a steady rise in popularity since 1989, reaching its peak rank of 238 in the latest data from 2025, with an incidence of approximately 1 in every 1158 newborns. It is most common in Southern states such as Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, reflecting its regional and cultural ties. The name offers a strong, place-based identity with straightforward nicknames like Dal, appealing to parents seeking a name that is both geographic and distinctive.
Dallas is a surname-turned-first-name of Scottish origin. It derives from the place name Dallas in Moray, Scotland, which is believed to come from the Gaelic elements 'dail' (meadow) and 'fas' (dwelling) or possibly 'dail' and 'uisge' (water). In the United States, the name gained popularity as a given name associated with the city of Dallas, Texas, which was named after George Mifflin Dallas, Vice President under James K. Polk.
Where Dallas is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Dallas” around the world
Where Dallas lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Ireland
4
babies in 2025
New Zealand
13
babies in 2025
Sources: CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Dal
Sibling names for Dallas
Names that share Dallas's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Austin, Savannah, Carson, Harlow, Reagan, London, Dakotah, Egypt, Paris, Raleigh, Berlin, Britain, Florida, Indiana, Jamaica, Kansas, Laramie, Sedona, Sicily, Tennessee, Tijuana, Albany, Atlanta, Brazil, English, Jerzee, Londen, Mesa, Scotland, Talise, Texie, Aberdeen, British, California, Daytona, England, Korea, Lexxus, Louisiana, Manila, Sonoma, Tulsa, Alabama, Dallys, Graceland, Londin, Malibu, Miami, Palestine, Portland, Russia, Seattle, Seville, Southern, Stormii, Texanna, Topeka
Brothers: Houston, Harrison, Carter, Mason, Parker, Boston, Memphis, Rome, Bronx, Dwaine, Harlem, Oakland, Tex, Castle, Dresden, Hartford, Melbourne, Montreal, Taiwan, Texas, Toddrick, Vegas, Brazos, Delorean, Dublin, Mavryk, Tacoma, Wrangler, Chicago, Thailand, Bronco, Cambridge, Detroit, Frisco, Kodiak, Morocco, Navarre, Tellis, Waco, Zurich
Names like Dallas
Names whose popularity has moved with Dallas's over the last 50 years.
