Dallas peaked in 2015 and holds 15,466 SSA records, a place name that crossed the gender line with surprising ease and sits at rank 657 as a girls' name that feels both bold and settled. It's the kind of geographic name that works because the city itself carries enough cultural weight to anchor the word.
Scottish Roots, American Identity
The name comes from Scottish Gaelic dail ghlas, meaning roughly "meadow" or "water field" — a quietly poetic origin that most people would never associate with the Texas city. The city of Dallas took the name from an early settler, and from there it became one of the most image-saturated place names in America: oil wealth, football, a TV dynasty that ran for a decade. Parents who choose Dallas for a daughter aren't usually thinking about Scottish meadows. They're choosing the name's American swagger.
Gender Journey
Dallas has historically trended male, but its 2015 peak for girls signals a real shift. The pattern follows other place names that crossed over — Savannah, Brooklyn, Milan — where the sound and feel of the word matter more than any gendered history. The strong single syllable at the start and the -as ending give Dallas a confidence that reads well for girls in the current naming climate. It pairs sharply with Rylee or Quinn for a sibling set with edge.
Is It Too Much Name?
Dallas is unambiguous — it lands with full force, no softening. For parents who want something understated or delicate, it's the wrong choice. But for a daughter whose parents want her name to announce itself without apology, Dallas does that cleanly. The risk of seeming gimmicky fades quickly once the name belongs to a real person.