Dallas

Meaning and origin

Dallas is a surname name with two possible geographical roots. One explanation connects it with Old English words meaning “valley house”; another traces it to Scottish Gaelic with the meaning “meadow dwelling.” It is used for both boys and girls, with an especially recognizable association with the city in Texas.

The surname background gives Dallas a history beyond the American place. As a first name, it brings together the familiar pattern of a family name becoming a personal name and the appeal of a geographical reference. The two proposed meanings both describe a place to live within a landscape.

Pronunciation and sound

Dallas is pronounced DAL-us, with the emphasis on the first syllable. The opening d and the double l give the spelling a firm outline, while the second syllable is lighter. Its final s distinguishes it from the many two-syllable names that end in a vowel or n.

The name keeps the same written form for boys and girls. Its two syllables make it relatively compact, while the full spelling remains strongly recognizable as both a surname and a place name. Those overlapping uses have become part of its modern identity.

Dallas Green and music

Canadian musician Dallas Green records under the name City and Colour. A co-founder of Alexisonfire, he began the quieter City and Colour project in 2005 and released the album Sometimes that year. The contrast between the two projects gives his name a connection with more than one musical setting.

His later song Meant To Be was written in memory of Karl Bareham, his longtime producer and engineer. Green worked on the song with Matt Kelly, bringing grief and remembrance into a blend of acoustic and electric guitars. This supplies a specific creative association for Dallas beyond the city's familiar image.

The stage name City and Colour also makes a memorable pairing beside Dallas Green: a city name followed by a color word. His own first name remains visible behind the recording identity, linking the personal name with a substantial body of contemporary Canadian music.

Popularity in the United States

Dallas has substantial American use for both sexes. For boys, its best rank was 214th in 1995, while its largest annual count came in 2025, with 1,475 births and a rank of 238. That difference shows how a name's highest count can occur in a different year from its highest rank.

For girls, the largest count was 551 in 2015, while the best rank was 529th in 1994. In 2025, it ranked 687th for girls, with 413 births. The latest figures show continuing shared use, with Dallas more common for American boys.

How popular is Dallas?

In 2025, Dallas ranked #238 among boys in the United States, with 1,475 recorded uses. The U.S. birth records first list this spelling for boys in 1880; its largest annual count was 1,475 in 2025. Rankings count each spelling separately. They describe national use, so local familiarity can differ. The popularity chart shows whether the name has remained common, returned after a quieter period, or risen recently.