Dallas

From a Scottish habitational surname derived from Gaelic elements meaning meadow of the cattle or waterfall. The Texas city was named in the 1840s, likely in honor of Vice President George M. Dallas. American parents adopted it sparingly in the nineteenth century before it gained modern traction as a casual place name.

The name sounds like a highway exit that made its way onto a birth certificate. It leans male in total volume but functions smoothly across genders without raising eyebrows. Over half of all living bearers are under twenty-five, making it read far younger than the municipality itself. It carries a mild swagger that rarely requires explanation.