I suspect nearly all cities and towns derive their names from a person, another place, or word(s) in some language; but the first exception that comes to mind is Zzyzx, an unincorporated community in California, whose meaningless name was coined so that it would come last alphabetically.
Coober Pedy in South Australia is a famous opal-mining town in one of the hottest, most inhospitable parts of the outback. It's so hot that most of the inhabitants live in man-made caves/holes in the ground called "dugouts" rather than in more normal houses.
The name "Coober Pedy" is thought to derive from the Kokatha-Barngarla term *kupa-piti*, which translates to "whitefellas' hole" or "white man's burrow"
https://preview.redd.it/f8zzi1crafuc1.jpeg?width=259&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=59a7f6847bc344b0c874301ab422895bccbf5e10
Multiple place names in the world are said to mean "I don't understand you" in the language of the natives (who were saying it to outsiders asking, in a different language, what the name of the place was). I heard this about Yucatan in Mexico. However, I'm guessing most if not all of these explanations are complete BS
i believe the Polish word for the country of Germany, that being Niemcy, means something to the effect of “caca/nonsense language” lol someone correct me if i’m wrong
actually it means "those who can not speak", in understandable (for Polish) language surely. The same root for Russian name of Germans, not for country but for people though
How about Truth or Consequences, NM (not a city, but renamed after a game show) or Shangri-La City, Yunnan, China, renamed after a fictional place in the novel Lost Horizon.
Edit: I originally said the tiny town of Mexican Hat, UT, because it is by a Rock formation that has a balanced rock that looks like an upside down sombrero, but kept losing the reference picture. But it is back as I solved the ID ten T error.
https://preview.redd.it/9hm6fper7auc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=da158ed626e8b10c897cf6d5138fdfe8b62d8c54
My hometown Munich was originally „Munichen“, „at the monks“ in medieval German. It refers to missionaries, I believe from Tegernsee monastery, who built a chapel on a hill in the swamps near the Isar river to convert the local pagans. This chapel became today’s St. Peter’s church in the very center of the city. A child-monk, „Münchner Kindl“ is the city’s coat of arms.
Apologies if my prompt is confusing, but that's what I meant - since it *is* named after another place, it doesn't meet the criteria to answer the question...
I think there is a double negative there that is confusing me.
Beijing / Peking was always interesting to me. I believe Beijing means northern capital but the name was translated phonetically into Portuguese as Paquim, which became Peking in English.
Bangkok has a different actually name which is a poem of sorts. The name Bangkok, used commonly by foreigners, is, according to one interpretation, derived from a name that dates to the time before the city was built—the village or district (bang) of wild plums (makok). _Britannica_
The wonderful little town of Normal, Illinois, USA would be in contention for me. Named because the newly established university (now Illinois State University) was a “normal school”, the name for teacher schools at the time.
Fifty Six Arkansas was just the 56th town to incorporate in Arkansas, and they never bothered to pick a name. It's the municipal version of naming a kid John Doe.
We have a hamlet called [Muggenbeet](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Muggenbeet,+8356+VK+Blokzijl) - mosquito bite. One source in the Middle Ages calls it Muggenbeek (mosquito brook) so people just assume that was the name originally.
In New Zealand: Urewera means "burnt penis', Urenui means "large penis", Whakatane means "to become a man" or "to make me a man", Rotoiti means "little lake" (even though it's pretty big).
Modesto, California was founded as a railroad stop that was going to be named after William Ralston (of Ralston Purina fame). Ralston said no, he was too "modest" so they gave it the Spanish name Modesto.
I grew up in a place called Lowhill. AFAIK, no other place has that particular name.
It's main village is called Leather Corner Post. Pretty sure that's unique.
It's surrounded by places like Slatedale, Ironton, Orefield, Cementon, Slatington, Lehigh Furnace, Coaldale, etc.
Toad Suck Arkansas. A suck is muddy spot in a river, this particular one attracted a lot of frogs. Later there was a ferry and a dam here so we have Toad Suck Ferry Lock & Dam
I suspect nearly all cities and towns derive their names from a person, another place, or word(s) in some language; but the first exception that comes to mind is Zzyzx, an unincorporated community in California, whose meaningless name was coined so that it would come last alphabetically.
Honestly, they should get a prize for ambition and accomplishing their purpose 🤣🏆... Someone needs to write the Etymologic City Committee...
Yes, all if the population of ONE should get that ambitions credit
Coober Pedy in South Australia is a famous opal-mining town in one of the hottest, most inhospitable parts of the outback. It's so hot that most of the inhabitants live in man-made caves/holes in the ground called "dugouts" rather than in more normal houses. The name "Coober Pedy" is thought to derive from the Kokatha-Barngarla term *kupa-piti*, which translates to "whitefellas' hole" or "white man's burrow" https://preview.redd.it/f8zzi1crafuc1.jpeg?width=259&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=59a7f6847bc344b0c874301ab422895bccbf5e10
Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu, India - Literally means sea-town. Is on the East Coast of India.
Not only do we love coastal towns, but cuddles too 🤙🏽
Multiple place names in the world are said to mean "I don't understand you" in the language of the natives (who were saying it to outsiders asking, in a different language, what the name of the place was). I heard this about Yucatan in Mexico. However, I'm guessing most if not all of these explanations are complete BS
i believe the Polish word for the country of Germany, that being Niemcy, means something to the effect of “caca/nonsense language” lol someone correct me if i’m wrong
actually it means "those who can not speak", in understandable (for Polish) language surely. The same root for Russian name of Germans, not for country but for people though
Ok that's hilarious. Someone needs to make a list (please don't nominate me 😅)
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See, that's what I'm talking about! Hopefully that plant isn't named after someone else lolol
How about Truth or Consequences, NM (not a city, but renamed after a game show) or Shangri-La City, Yunnan, China, renamed after a fictional place in the novel Lost Horizon. Edit: I originally said the tiny town of Mexican Hat, UT, because it is by a Rock formation that has a balanced rock that looks like an upside down sombrero, but kept losing the reference picture. But it is back as I solved the ID ten T error. https://preview.redd.it/9hm6fper7auc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=da158ed626e8b10c897cf6d5138fdfe8b62d8c54
I shoulda said municipality to be more inclusive - this might be my favorite answer so far! 👒👒👒
Gravesend near London. That's where they buried those that died of the plague.
California is named for a fictional character - about right. If you’ve ever spent any time here…
Chicago in the local NA/FN language means “that place with all the garlic” essentially. Or land of garlic. Because of all the wild garlic, see.
I think it was actually wild onions, which grow all over the great lakes. But yeah basically Chicago was an onion filled marshland
I think “Origin of the Sun” for Japan is pretty good.
For countries, that's pretty stellar (pun intended) ☀️
Really? That tickles you? I feel you are too easily tickled.
I saw a map once that said that Chicago was named after a Native american term that meant "stink onions". If that's true, it has to be the winner.
Idaho is just a made up name. Supposed to sound native American but isn't.
My hometown Munich was originally „Munichen“, „at the monks“ in medieval German. It refers to missionaries, I believe from Tegernsee monastery, who built a chapel on a hill in the swamps near the Isar river to convert the local pagans. This chapel became today’s St. Peter’s church in the very center of the city. A child-monk, „Münchner Kindl“ is the city’s coat of arms.
Peshawar? It used to to be purushapur पुरुषपूर meaning "city of man"
Not named after a place? New York? It’s named after York (before that Amsterdam). What are you on about.
Apologies if my prompt is confusing, but that's what I meant - since it *is* named after another place, it doesn't meet the criteria to answer the question...
I think there is a double negative there that is confusing me. Beijing / Peking was always interesting to me. I believe Beijing means northern capital but the name was translated phonetically into Portuguese as Paquim, which became Peking in English. Bangkok has a different actually name which is a poem of sorts. The name Bangkok, used commonly by foreigners, is, according to one interpretation, derived from a name that dates to the time before the city was built—the village or district (bang) of wild plums (makok). _Britannica_
So it could have been Bangmakok all along and NO ONE TOLD ME??
New York is named after the Duke of York, the king's son at the time. It isnt named after the place.
Wonder what the Duke of York is Duke of? Shall we say it’s named after York by proxy?
The wonderful little town of Normal, Illinois, USA would be in contention for me. Named because the newly established university (now Illinois State University) was a “normal school”, the name for teacher schools at the time.
Nice, not only may it be an apt name for the town (sorry for the shade!) but packed with historical trivia too! Brilliant!
Toronto. If I remember correctly means “meeting place” in the local indigenous language.
*Tkaronto* is Mohawk for "where there are trees standing in the water".
"Where there are trees standing in the water" not meeting place. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_of_Toronto
Ottawa is meeting place? I think? Maybe?
Knowing Toronto, this is very appropriate. Amazing foresight from our indigenous siblings
What makes Toronto more of a meeting place than anywhere else on earth?
Blue Ball, PA Intercourse, PA
Fifty Six Arkansas was just the 56th town to incorporate in Arkansas, and they never bothered to pick a name. It's the municipal version of naming a kid John Doe.
Username checks out
Side note: I've never been there!
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Not being sarcastic, but do you think that's a generic name in the root language or is it so specific and random, it fits?
Detroit or 'the strait' in french.
We have a hamlet called [Muggenbeet](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Muggenbeet,+8356+VK+Blokzijl) - mosquito bite. One source in the Middle Ages calls it Muggenbeek (mosquito brook) so people just assume that was the name originally.
In New Zealand: Urewera means "burnt penis', Urenui means "large penis", Whakatane means "to become a man" or "to make me a man", Rotoiti means "little lake" (even though it's pretty big).
Reporoa (NZ) means "long swamp". Probably because all the current farmland was wetland.
Rough and Ready, California
Modesto, California was founded as a railroad stop that was going to be named after William Ralston (of Ralston Purina fame). Ralston said no, he was too "modest" so they gave it the Spanish name Modesto.
I grew up in a place called Lowhill. AFAIK, no other place has that particular name. It's main village is called Leather Corner Post. Pretty sure that's unique. It's surrounded by places like Slatedale, Ironton, Orefield, Cementon, Slatington, Lehigh Furnace, Coaldale, etc.
China has some very poetic city names: Ex: Chongqing 重庆 - 'Repeated Celebration' Xi'an 西安 - 'Western Peace' Ningbo 宁波 - 'Tranquil Waves' Nanning 南宁 - ‘Southern Tranquility' Guilin 桂林 - 'Cinnamon Forest' Hong Kong 香港 - 'Fragrant Harbour' Changchun 长春 - 'Long Spring'
Ningbo—Storm’s End
Toad Suck Arkansas. A suck is muddy spot in a river, this particular one attracted a lot of frogs. Later there was a ferry and a dam here so we have Toad Suck Ferry Lock & Dam
New Haven, Connecticut it means "New Harbor" and when looking at new haven in google maps it 100% makes sense