60+ Cities — 1 Wild Story Behind Each Name

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In this article, we’re going to unpack the names behind some of the greatest cities in the world. The article is based on the findings of the YouTube channel “Fire of Learning.”

We’ll hop from Celtic tribes to Carthaginian generals, from Roman forts to fragrant harbors, and we’ll even meet a few monks and mythical birds along the way.

Let’s start with the City of Light.

Paris

Paris gets its name from the Parisii, a Celtic tribe that lived in the area before the Roman conquest of Gaul.

After the Romans arrived, they founded a city called Lutetia on the land of the Parisii. Despite the Roman influence, the original tribal name persisted over time.

Importantly, it has absolutely no connection to the Paris of Troy—who, according to myth, got his city destroyed over a love affair.

Chicago

The name ‘Chicago’ is derived from the Miami-Illinois word ‘shikaakwa’, which referred to a type of wild onion or garlic native to the area.

French explorer Robert de LaSalle documented the plant’s presence in the 17th century, noting how it grew abundantly around the region that would later become one of America’s largest cities.

Detroit

The city name ‘Detroit’ comes from the French word ‘détroit’, meaning “strait.” It refers to the narrow river passage connecting Lake Erie and Lake Huron.

The French established ‘Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit’ at this strategic location in 1701, giving rise to the city’s name.

Los Angeles

Founded by Spanish settlers in 1781, Los Angeles was initially named ‘El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles’, or “The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels.”

The religiously inspired name reflects the Catholic heritage of Spanish colonial naming conventions. Modern locals are probably thankful for the abbreviation.

Toronto

Toronto likely comes from the Iroquoian word ‘tkaronto’, which may mean “place where trees stand in the water.”

Other possible origins include ‘Toronto hen’ or ‘tekaronto’, depending on the dialect. The city was originally named York by the British, but since the name “York” was already used for New York, it didn’t stick for long.

New York

Initially established by the Dutch as ‘New Amsterdam’, the city was renamed ‘New York’ when the British took control.

The name honors the Duke of York (later King James II), not just the city of York in England. Interestingly, the English city of York traces its name back to the Latin ‘Eboracum’, making New York a city with a similar heritage.

Ottawa

The capital city of Canada, ‘Ottawa’, was named after the Ottawa River. That, in turn, comes from the Algonquin word meaning “to trade.”

Before being renamed in 1854, the area was known as Bytown. Its renaming highlighted its growing status as a center of commerce and governance.

Moscow

Known in Russian as ‘Moskva’, the city is named after the Moskva River. While the exact meaning is still debated, scholars propose theories ranging from “black river” to “marshland.”

Despite its mysterious origins, the name has become one of the most iconic in the world.

Stockholm

‘Stockholm’ likely comes from Old Norse, combining ‘stock’ (log) and ‘holm’ (island), pointing to a “log island” or “fortified island.”

The city was established around 1000 AD and its location on the water made it a strategic and defensible settlement from early on.

Copenhagen

‘Copenhagen’ comes from the Old Norse term ‘Køpmannahavn’, which translates to “merchants’ haven.”

It reflects the city’s deep roots as a center of trade and commerce in the Baltic Sea. The name highlights Denmark’s long-standing maritime and trading history.

Philadelphia

Greek for “brotherly love,” ‘Philadelphia’ comes from ‘philos’ (love) and ‘adelphos’ (brother). The name was chosen to embody ideals of unity and tolerance.

While the most famous Philadelphia is in Pennsylvania, the original ancient city was located in Anatolia—modern-day Turkey.

Houston

‘Houston, Texas’ is named after Sam Houston, a leading figure in the Texas Revolution and the third president of the short-lived Republic of Texas.

His name is everywhere in the state, and the city named after him grew to become one of the largest in the United States.

Phoenix

The city of ‘Phoenix’ was named after the mythical bird that dies and is reborn from its ashes—a symbol of renewal.

This wasn’t just poetic: the name was chosen in 1867 because the city was built on the ruins of a long-lost Native American civilization. The metaphor of rebirth fit perfectly.

Tokyo

Before it became the mega-metropolis we know today, ‘Tokyo’ was known as ‘Edo’. When the capital was moved there in 1868, the city was renamed ‘Tokyo’, meaning “Eastern Capital.”

This reflected its new status as the political center of Japan—mirroring a similar naming logic used in Beijing.

Beijing

‘Beijing’ means “Northern Capital” in Chinese. The name sets it apart from ‘Nanjing’, which means “Southern Capital.” It’s a simple but symbolic way to reflect political orientation and regional identity within China.

Seoul

‘Seoul’, the capital of South Korea, simply means “capital” in Korean.

The name is minimal but powerful, declaring its primacy in a single word. It’s a bit like naming a city “Capital City”—which is exactly what it is.

Hong Kong

‘Hong Kong’ is the romanized version of the Cantonese ‘Heung Gong’, which translates to “fragrant harbor.”

The name likely refers to the incense that was historically traded in the area—a reminder of its roots in maritime commerce.

London

Founded by the Romans as ‘Londinium’ around 43 AD, ‘London’ has a name of uncertain origin. It’s likely rooted in a Brittonic (Celtic) term.

Theories abound, including “place of King Ludd,” “flooded place,” and “fort on a lake.” Whatever the origin, it’s a name that has stood the test of millennia.

Dublin

‘Dublin’ comes from the Old Irish ‘Dubh Linn’, meaning “black pool.” The name refers to a dark tidal pool where the River Poddle entered the River Liffey.

The Norse had their own version of the name, but the Irish one ultimately stuck.

Edinburgh

Though sometimes mistakenly linked to King Edwin of Northumbria, ‘Edinburgh’ predates him. The name is of Celtic origin, likely meaning “fort” or “settlement on a slope.” Its rocky geography definitely helps support that theory.

Mumbai

Formerly known as ‘Bombay’, the city was renamed ‘Mumbai’ to reflect its indigenous heritage. The name is derived from the Hindu goddess ‘Mumbā’, who is worshipped by the local Marathi-speaking population.

Istanbul

‘Istanbul’ comes from a linguistic evolution of the Greek phrase ‘eis tin polin’, meaning “into the city.” This was likely something locals said in passing when giving directions. After the Ottomans conquered Constantinople in 1453, the name gradually transformed into its modern form.

Warsaw

‘Warsaw’ is known in Polish as ‘Warszawa’. The origin of the name is somewhat obscure, but one theory suggests it comes from a personal name—possibly “Wars”—making it mean “Wars’ place.” Another folk tale speaks of a fisherman named Wars and his mermaid wife Sawa.

Berlin

Although a bear adorns the city’s flag, ‘Berlin’ is most likely derived from a Slavic root meaning “swamp.” The similarity to the German word for bear (‘Bär’) is coincidental but persistent in popular imagination.

Vienna

The name ‘Vienna’ may come from the Celtic word ‘duniyā’, meaning “forest stream,” or from the Latin ‘Vindobona’, which translates to “fair settlement.”

The area was a Roman military camp long before it became Austria’s capital.

Rome

According to legend, ‘Rome’ was founded by Romulus, who became its first king after defeating his twin brother Remus. While it’s a great story, the actual origin of the name remains uncertain and could predate the legend entirely.

Madrid

The name ‘Madrid’ has unclear roots—possibly from Celtic or Arabic origins. Most theories agree it relates to water, either referencing a stream or a place with abundant waterways.

Lisbon

‘Lisbon’ may trace its roots back to Phoenician, Proto-Celtic, or Greek languages. A romantic legend claims Ulysses founded it, but there’s no solid evidence supporting that. What is clear: it’s one of Europe’s oldest cities.

San Francisco, San Antonio, San Diego, San Jose

Spanish missionaries and colonists named these cities in honor of Catholic saints. ‘San Francisco’ is named for St. Francis of Assisi, ‘San Antonio’ for St. Anthony of Padua, ‘San Diego’ for St. Didacus of Alcalá, and ‘San Jose’ for St. Joseph, husband of Mary.

Dallas

‘Dallas’ was named after George M. Dallas, the 11th Vice President of the United States. Interestingly, he was from Philadelphia, not Texas.

Rio de Janeiro

‘Rio de Janeiro’ means “River of January” in Portuguese. The name was given by Portuguese explorers who arrived at the bay on January 1, 1502 and mistook it for a river mouth.

Buenos Aires

‘Buenos Aires’ is Spanish for “good airs” or “fair winds.” The name honors the favorable winds that helped guide Spanish explorers safely to shore.

Chongqing

In Chinese, ‘Chongqing’ means “redoubled celebration.” As of 2020, it was the largest city in the world by population within city limits.

Shanghai

‘Shanghai’ translates to “upon the sea.” The name, dating back to the 11th century, fits perfectly for a city whose history and economy are tied to its coastal location.

Cincinnati

‘Cincinnati’ was named in 1790 after the Society of the Cincinnati, a group of Revolutionary War veterans. The society itself was named after the Roman hero Cincinnatus, who symbolized civic virtue by giving up power after saving the state.

Cleveland

Named after Moses Cleaveland, the city originally included an “a” in its spelling—’Cleaveland’. It was later dropped, reportedly due to a newspaper’s lack of space in its masthead.

Delhi

‘Delhi’ may come from a word meaning “threshold,” possibly referring to its position as a gateway between the Ganges and Indus river systems.

Boston

‘Boston’ was named after a town in Lincolnshire, England. That older Boston has Anglo-Saxon origins—’Botwulf’s stone’—a reference to the missionary Saint Botolph.

Denver

‘Denver’ was named in 1859 after James W. Denver, governor of the Kansas Territory. Curiously, he resigned before the city became significant.

Cairo

‘Cairo’, or ‘al-Qāhirah’ in Arabic, means “The Victorious.” The name may refer to Mars, the planet visible in the sky at the time of the city’s founding, or to the conquering success of its rulers.

Las Vegas

In Spanish, ‘Las Vegas’ means “The Meadows.” The name was given by explorers who were surprised to find abundant greenery in an otherwise arid region.

Barcelona

Though often linked to Hannibal’s family name ‘Barca’, there’s no clear evidence that ‘Barcelona’ was named after him. The true origin remains ancient and obscure.

Munich

‘Munich’ (or ‘München’ in German) means “of the monks.” The city was founded by Benedictine monks in the 12th century, and the monk symbol still appears in the city’s coat of arms.

Milan

‘Milan’ comes from the Latin ‘Mediolanum’, possibly meaning “middle of the plain.” Its geography—right in the heart of the Po Valley—supports this idea.

Prague

‘Prague’ likely comes from a Slavic root referring to a ford—a shallow part of a river where it can be crossed. Fitting, since it straddles the Vltava River.

Tehran

‘Tehran’ may trace its name to the Zoroastrian figure ‘Tir’, who is the Persian equivalent of Hermes. The city’s name remains debated among historians.

Calgary

Named after ‘Calgary Bay’ in Scotland, the name ‘Calgary’ likely means “cold garden” or “bay farm” in Old Norse.

Vancouver

‘Vancouver’ was named after the British explorer George Vancouver, who charted the Pacific Northwest in the late 18th century.

Sydney

Named after ‘Sydney Cove’, which was itself named for British politician Lord Sydney. He never visited, but his name lives on down under.

Wellington

‘Wellington’ was named after the Duke of Wellington, the British general who defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

Tucson

‘Tucson’ comes from the native O’odham word ‘Cuk Ṣon’, which means “black base,” referring to the volcanic mountains at the city’s edge.

Cardiff

‘Cardiff’ is from Old Welsh and likely means “fort of the Taff,” referring to the River Taff that runs through the city.

Manchester

‘Manchester’ blends Brittonic ‘mam’ (breast-like hill) and Latin ‘castra’ (fort), translating to something like “fort on a breast-shaped hill.”

Belgrade

‘Belgrade’ means “white city” in Serbian. It’s been inhabited since prehistoric times and has seen dozens of name changes through various empires.

Honolulu

‘Honolulu’ means “calm port” or “sheltered bay” in Hawaiian—a very appropriate name for Hawaii’s capital.

Baltimore

Named after Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, who was the founding proprietor of the Maryland colony.

Birmingham

‘Birmingham, Alabama’ was named after ‘Birmingham’ in England, a city whose name means “home of Beorma’s people,” from Old English.

Liverpool

From Old English ‘lifere’ (muddy water) and ‘pōl’ (pool), ‘Liverpool’ began as a small tidal creek and grew into a major port.

Islamabad

‘Islamabad’ means “City of Islam.” The name was chosen to reflect Pakistan’s identity after the city was purpose-built to be the nation’s capital.

Lagos

‘Lagos’ means “lakes” in Portuguese. It was named by Portuguese traders who saw similarities to a lagoon region in Portugal.

Johannesburg

The exact origin is unclear, but ‘Johannesburg’ was likely named after one of several officials named Johannes, such as Johannes Meyer or Johannes Rissik, who were involved in the gold rush-era settlement.

Damascus

One of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, ‘Damascus’ has an uncertain etymology. Possibilities include meanings like “well-watered land” or “place of dwelling.”

Baghdad

From Middle Persian ‘Bagh-dād’, meaning “bestowed by God” or “God-given.” Despite its deep Islamic history, the name has pre-Islamic roots.

Alexandria

‘Alexandria’ was named by Alexander the Great after he conquered Egypt. One of the many cities he founded that bear his name.

Amsterdam

‘Amsterdam’ comes from “Amstel dam,” referring to a dam built on the River Amstel. The name captures the city’s practical and watery origin.

Brussels

‘Brussels’ likely comes from Dutch ‘Broekzele’, meaning “home in the marsh.” A fitting name for a city with soggy beginnings.

Zurich

‘Zurich’ may come from a Gaulish root, possibly ‘Turīcon’, meaning “the place of the stronghold of Tūros.” That name predates the Romans.

One note from the video: it incorrectly states that Zurich is the capital of Switzerland. In fact, Bern holds that title — not Zurich.