Dallas

At a Glance

Meaning

Roughly "dwelling in the valley" (dale + house/abode)

Origin

Scottish (place name and surname)

Gender

Neutral

Pronunciation

DAL-usListen

Dallas is a Scottish place name and surname that's used as a name for any gender today, and it fits neatly into both outdoorsy, nature-inspired and timeless, classic styles. Some baby-name sites claim it means 'field near the water,' but that gloss isn't backed by any source — the documented roots trace to 'dale' plus a word for house or dwelling, giving a meaning closer to 'dwelling in the valley.' It's pronounced DAL-us.

Meaning & Origin of Dallas

Meaning: Roughly "dwelling in the valley" (dale + house/abode).

Origin: Scottish (place name and surname).

A common claim: Dallas is sometimes said on baby-name sites to mean 'field near the water.' Actually: That gloss isn't supported by any source; the documented etymology (from the surname/place name) points instead to 'dale/valley' plus a dwelling element, roughly 'dwelling in the valley.'

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Dallas

Popularity of Dallas

Dallas peaked at #214 in 1995, when 1,374 babies were given the name, and in 2024 it sat at #243 with 1,448 babies — so it's actually holding steady or ticking up in raw numbers even as its rank has drifted a bit lower.

Names Like Dallas

These names share Dallas’s style, era or origin.

• Everly
• Meadow
• River
• Sterling
• Aspen
• Bay

FAQ

What does the name Dallas mean?

Roughly “dwelling in the valley” (dale + house/abode). (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Dallas?

Dallas is pronounced DAL-us (IPA: /ˈdæləs/).

Is Dallas a popular name right now?

Dallas is near its all-time peak (#214 in 1995), ranked #243 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Dallas Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Dallas, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.