The first name Pallas
A girl’s name from Greek meaning “to poise”, “sway”, “swing”.
Pronounced /ˈpæləs/ 2 syllables Female Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Greek origin
Pallas means “to poise”, “sway”, “swing” in Greek.
From Ancient Greek Παλλάς (Pallás) (f.) or Πάλλας (Pállas) (m.), from πάλλω (pállō, “to poise, sway, or swing”), but explained here by the ancients as more specifically meaning to brandish something. In Athena's conventional iconography, she was often depicted with a spear or a shield. Thus the epithet was explained as referring to her brandishing these things.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Pallas at birth, 1880–2025
In 2024, 7 girls born in the United States were named Pallas, the 13,122nd most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 2015, when 11 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Pallas in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Pallas in Finnish, French, Irish and Vietnamese too.
More Greek girls’ names
Questions
- What does the name Pallas mean?
- Pallas means “to poise”, “sway”, “swing” in Greek.
- What is the origin of the name Pallas?
- From Ancient Greek Παλλάς (Pallás) (f.) or Πάλλας (Pállas) (m.), from πάλλω (pállō, “to poise, sway, or swing”), but explained here by the ancients as more specifically meaning to brandish something. In Athena's conventional iconography, she was often depicted with a spear or a shield. Thus the…
- When was Pallas most popular?
- 2015 in the United States, when 11 babies were named Pallas, its highest rank at 9,993rd.
- How do you pronounce Pallas?
- Pallas is /ˈpæləs/, 2 syllables.
- Is Pallas also a surname?
- Yes. Pallas is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.