Dallas first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Dallas has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Dallas

A name of unconfirmed origin, possibly related to a Scottish valley.

Popularity of Dallas by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Dallas is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 78% of people named Dallas being male.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 1,448 male babies and 444 female babies born with the name Dallas.

YearMale CountFemale Count
20241,448444
20231,375482
20221,346454
20211,283465
20201,261458
20191,227508
20181,229471
20171,399522
20161,224481
20151,418551
20141,365524
20131,166458
2012983289
2011961236
20101,003221
2009933213
2008992197
2007949199
2006864207
2005814178
2004788188
2003684187
2002804209
2001878209
2000944243
1999950236
19981,007286
19971,182343
19961,289438
19951,374447
19941,304467
19931,156450
1992895351
1991693103
1990591106
1989590110
1988591123
198756299
198653791
198556285
1984551110
198345980
198253486
1981587119
1980679117
1979610110
197846384
197733753
197632754
197534235

The history of the first name Dallas

The name Dallas has an enigmatic and elusive origin, with no definitive consensus among scholars on its roots. Some linguists trace its etymology to the Gaelic word "dail," meaning "meadow" or "field," while others point to the Old English "dal," signifying a valley or dale. Others still suggest a potential connection to the ancient Greek "dāllō," meaning "to warm" or "to heat."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dallas is found in the Domesday Book, a medieval census commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This document mentions a landowner named "Dalas" residing in Lincolnshire, England. However, the precise meaning and origin of this name remain shrouded in mystery.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Dallas. One such figure is Dallas Winslow (1837-1919), an American politician and soldier who served as a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Another individual of note is Dallas Donnell (1915-1998), an American football player and coach who played for the Detroit Lions and later coached at the collegiate level.

In the realm of literature, Dallas McCord Reynolds (1917-1999) was an American science fiction author known for his contributions to the genre, particularly his works exploring themes of time travel and parallel universes. Dallas Willard (1935-2013), on the other hand, was a renowned American philosopher and author who made significant contributions to the field of Christian philosophy and spiritual formation.

Lastly, Dallas Green (born 1934) is a former professional baseball player and manager who played for the Philadelphia Phillies and later managed several teams, including the New York Yankees and the New York Mets.

While the name Dallas has an intriguing and enigmatic history, its precise origins remain a subject of ongoing scholarly debate and speculation, with various theories and interpretations emerging from different linguistic and cultural perspectives.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Dallas was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Dallas, please contact us.

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