Dallas is a unisex given name of American origin. It is derived from the surname Dallas, which has two possible origins. The most common origin is that it was an Anglicized form of the Scottish Clan Gaelic name "Dubhghall", composed of the elements "dubh" meaning "black" and " gall" meaning "stranger". Alternatively, Dallas may have been derived from the Old English personal name "Dallas", which was composed of the elements "del" meaning "noble" or "bold" and "haegl" meaning "battle".
The name Dallas gained popularity in the United States during the 20th century. It is often associated with Texas, as the city of Dallas is located in that state. However, it is not known whether there is a direct connection between the city's name and the personal name Dallas.
Despite its Scottish origins, Dallas is considered to be a unisex name in English-speaking countries. It has been used for both boys and girls since the mid-20th century. Some notable individuals with the given name Dallas include American actors Dallas Austin and Dallas Robertson, as well as Australian footballer Dallas Dowe.
The name Dallas has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past century and a half, with a total of 68,239 babies named Dallas born since 1880. The number of annual births fluctuated greatly during the late 19th and early to mid-20th centuries, ranging from as low as 16 in 1887 to a peak of 59 in 1910. However, starting around the late 1960s, there was a notable rise in the usage of the name, with over 300 births each year since 1968. The most popular years for the name Dallas were between 2014 and 2023, during which time there were consistently over 1,000 births per year, reaching a peak of 1,375 in 2022. This trend suggests that the name Dallas continues to be favored among parents in recent years.