Ancient Near Eastern Origin Place Names

This is a list of place names in which the origin is Ancient Near Eastern.
type
usage
origin
Ararat (Mountain) Armenian, Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
From the name of the ancient kingdom of Urartu. This is the name of a mountain in Turkey (formerly part of Armenia), the place where Noah's Ark came to rest according to the Old Testament. It is usually called Մասիս (Masis) in Armenian.
Ariha (Settlement) Arabic
Arabic form of Jericho.
Ashur (Settlement & Region) English, Arabic, Persian, Akkadian
From Akkadian 𒀸𒋩 (Assur), meaning unknown. This was the capital city of the Assyrian Empire, supposedly named for the god Ashur, though the god was in fact probably named for the city. The empire, Assyria, was also named for it. The city was destroyed in the 14th century by the forces of Tamerlane.... [more]
Ashurayu (Region) Akkadian
Akkadian form of Assyria.
Assiria (Region) Italian
Italian form of Assyria.
Assyria (Region) English, Ancient Roman, Ancient Greek
From Greek Ἀσσυρία (Assyria), derived from Akkadian Ashurayu, itself from the name of the empire's capital city Ashur. This was the name of an ancient Mesopotamian kingdom and empire.
Assyrie (Region) French
French form of Assyria.
Babili (Settlement) Akkadian
Akkadian form of Babylon.
Babilónia (Settlement) Portuguese
Portuguese form of Babylon.
Babilonia (Settlement) Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of Babylon.
Babylon (Settlement) English, German, Dutch, Biblical, Ancient Roman, Biblical Latin, Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Greek form of Akkadian 𒆍𒀭𒊏𒆠 (Babili), which appears to mean "gateway of God", from Akkadian 𒆍 (babu) meaning "gate" and 𒀭 (ilu) meaning "God", though it may in fact derive from a non-Semitic language. This was the name of a major city in ancient Mesopotamia, the capital of the Babylonian Empire. It was located in present-day Iraq.
Babylone (Settlement) French
French form of Babylon.
Bayt Lahm (Settlement) Arabic
Arabic form of Bethlehem. The Arabic word لحم (laḥm) meaning "meat" is cognate with Hebrew לֶחֶם (leḥem) meaning "bread".
Belén (Settlement) Spanish, Biblical Spanish
Spanish form of Bethlehem.
Betânia (Settlement) Biblical Portuguese
Portuguese form of Bethany.
Betania (Settlement) Biblical Spanish, Biblical Italian
Spanish and Italian form of Bethany.
Bet-'El (Settlement) Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Bethel.
Bethania (Settlement) Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Form of Bethany used in the Greek and Latin New Testament.
Bethany (Settlement) Biblical
From Greek Βηθανία (Bethania), which is of uncertain meaning. The first part of the name is derived from Hebrew/Aramaic בַּיִת (bayiṯ) meaning "house". Suggestions for the second part of the name include עָנָה (ʿana) leading to "house of affliction" or תְּאֵנָה (teʾena) leading to "house of figs". In the New Testament the town of Bethany is the home of Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha.
Bethel (Settlement) Biblical
Means "house of God" in Hebrew, from the roots בַּיִת (bayiṯ) meaning "house" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". In the Old Testament this is a town north of Jerusalem, where Jacob saw his vision of the stairway.
Bethléem (Settlement) French
French form of Bethlehem.
Bethleem (Settlement) Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Form of Bethlehem used in the Greek and Latin Bibles.
Bethlehem (Settlement) English, German, Dutch, Biblical
Means "house of bread" in Hebrew, from the roots בַּיִת (bayiṯ) meaning "house" and לֶחֶם (leḥem) meaning "bread". This is the name of a city in Palestine. It appears in the both the Old Testament and the New Testament, notably as the town where Jesus is born.
Bet-Lechem (Settlement) Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Bethlehem.
Betlehem (Settlement) Slovak
Slovak form of Bethlehem.
Betlém (Settlement) Czech
Czech form of Bethlehem.
Betlemme (Settlement) Italian
Italian form of Bethlehem.
Canaán (Region) Spanish
Spanish form of Canaan.
Canaan (Region) English, French, Biblical
From Hebrew ךְּנַעַן (Kenaʿan), possibly from a root meaning "low, humble". This was the name of an ancient region, the home of the biblical Canaanites, in what is now Palestine and Israel.
Cananea (Region) Italian
Italian form of Canaan.
Carmel (Mountain) Biblical, Biblical Latin
Form of Karmel used in the Latin and English Bibles.
Ceyhun (River) Turkish, Azerbaijani
Turkish and Azerbaijani form of Jayhun.
Chanaan (Region) Biblical Greek, Biblical Latin
Greek and Latin form of Canaan.
Damas (Settlement) French
French form of Damascus.
Damasco (Settlement) Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Damascus.
Damascus (Settlement) Ancient Roman, Biblical Latin, English
Meaning unknown, probably of Semitic origin. It is first mentioned in Egyptian records from the 15th century BC under the name Tmsq. It is now the capital city of Syria.
Damaskos (Settlement) Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Greek form of Damascus.
Damesek (Settlement) Hebrew
Modern Hebrew transcription of Damascus.
Dameshq (Settlement) Persian
Persian form of Damascus.
Dammeseq (Settlement) Ancient Aramaic, Biblical Hebrew
Aramaic and Hebrew form of Damascus.
Dimashq (Settlement) Arabic
Arabic form of Damascus.
Ebenezer (Other) Biblical
From Hebrew אֶבֶן הָעָזֶר (ʾEven Haʿazer) meaning "stone of help". This is the name of a monument erected by Samuel in the Old Testament.
'Eden (Region) Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Eden.
Éden (Region) Biblical French
French form of Eden.
Eden (Region) Hebrew, Biblical
Possibly from Hebrew עֵדֶן (ʿeḏen) meaning "pleasure, delight", or perhaps derived from Sumerian 𒂔 (edin) meaning "plain". According to the Old Testament the Garden of Eden was the place where the first people, Adam and Eve, lived before they were expelled.
Effratis (River) Greek
Modern Greek form of Euphrates.
Eragh (Country) Persian
Persian form of Iraq.
Erech (Settlement) Biblical
Form of Uruk used in the English Old Testament.
'Erekh (Settlement) Biblical Hebrew
Form of Uruk used in the Hebrew Bible.
Esharra (Other) Ancient Assyrian
From Sumerian 𒂍 (e) meaning "temple, house" and 𒊹 (shar) meaning "totality, world". This was the name of the main temple dedicated to the god Ashur in the city of Ashur.
Euphrates (River) English, Ancient Roman, Ancient Greek
From Greek Εὐφράτης (Euphrates), the name of a river in Mesopotamia. It is derived from Old Persian 𐎢𐎳𐎼𐎠𐎬𐎢 (Ufratu), itself from Elamite or Sumerian, of uncertain meaning.
'Even Ha'azer (Other) Biblical Hebrew
Original Hebrew form of Ebenezer.
Fırat (River) Turkish
Turkish form of Euphrates.
Furat (River) Arabic
Arabic form of Euphrates. In Arabic it is properly written with the definite article: الفرات (al-Furāt).
Galaad (Region) Biblical French
French form of Gilead.
Galilee (Region) English, Biblical
From Hebrew גָּלִיל (Galil) meaning "district, roll". This is a region in northern Israel, mentioned in the Old and New Testament.
Gerusalemme (Settlement) Italian
Italian form of Jerusalem.
Gichon (River) Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Gihon.
Gihon (River) Biblical
From Hebrew גִּיחוֹן (Giḥon), derived from גִּיחַ (giyaḥ) meaning "to burst forth". According to the Old Testament, this was the name of a river that originated in the Garden of Eden.
Gilad (Region) Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Gilead.
Gilead (Region) Biblical
Means "heap of witness" in Hebrew. This is the name of a mountainous region east of the Jordan River, as mentioned in the Old Testament.
Giordania (Country) Italian
Italian form of Jordan (the country).
Giordano (River) Italian
Italian form of Jordan (the river).
Har'el (Other) Biblical Hebrew
Means "altar, mountain of God" in Hebrew. In the Hebrew Old Testament this name is applied to the altar in the temple in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 43:15).
Hierusalem (Settlement) Biblical Latin
Biblical Latin form of Jerusalem.
Iémen (Country) Portuguese (European)
European Portuguese form of Yemen.
Iêmen (Country) Portuguese (Brazilian)
Brazilian Portuguese form of Yemen.
Iemen (Country) Catalan, Galician, Japanese
Catalan, Galician and Japanese form of Yemen.
Iemeni (Country) Georgian
Georgian form of Yemen.
Ierousalem (Settlement) Biblical Greek
Biblical Greek form of Jerusalem.
Ierousalim (Settlement) Greek
Modern Greek form of Jerusalem.
Iordan (River) Russian, Romanian
Russian and Romanian form of Jordan (the river).
Iordanes (River) Biblical Greek, Biblical Latin
Greek and Latin form of Jordan.
Iordania (Country) Romanian, Greek, Georgian
Romanian, Greek and Georgian form of Jordan (the country).
Iordanis (River) Greek
Modern Greek form of Jordan (the river).
Iordaniya (Country) Russian
Russian form of Jordan (the country).
Irák (Country) Czech
Czech form of Iraq.
Irāka (Country) Latvian
Latvian form of Iraq.
Irakas (Country) Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Iraq.
İraq (Country) Azerbaijani
Azerbaijani form of Iraq.
Iraq (Country) Arabic, English, Italian, Catalan, Malay
From Arabic العراق (al-ʿIrāq), probably derived from the name of the ancient Sumerian/Akkadian city of Uruk. This is the name of a country in the Middle East.
Isin (Settlement) Sumerian
Meaning unknown. This was the name of a city-state in Mesopotamia, originally Sumerian.
Israël (Country) Dutch, French
Dutch and French form of Israel.
Israel (Country) English, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Indonesian, Malay, Biblical, Biblical Greek
From the name of the Old Testament hero Jacob, who was also called Israel. This was the name of an ancient kingdom that existed until the 8th century BC. The modern country of Israel is named for it.
Israele (Country) Italian
Italian form of Israel.
Israhel (Country) Biblical Latin
Latin form of Israel.
İsrail (Country) Turkish, Azerbaijani
Turkish and Azerbaijani form of Israel.
Ivah (Settlement) Biblical
Derived from Hebrew עַוָּה (ʿawwa) meaning "ruin, destruction". According to the Old Testament, this was the name of a city in Assyria.
'Iwwa (Settlement) Biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew form of Ivah.
Izrail (Country) Russian
Russian form of Israel.
Izrayil (Country) Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Israel.
Janków (Settlement) Polish
From the given name Janek. This is the name of several Polish towns.
Jankowo (Settlement) Polish
From the given name Janek. This is the name of several towns in Poland.
Janów (Settlement) Polish
From the given name Jan 1. This is the name of several towns in Poland.
Janowice (Settlement) Polish
From the given name Jan 1. This is the name of a number of towns in Poland.
Janowo (Settlement) Polish
From the given name Jan 1. This is the name of several towns in Poland.
Jayhun (River) Arabic
Arabic form of Gihon, used also as the name of the Amu Darya river in central Asia.
Jemena (Country) Latvian
Latvian form of Yemen.
Jemenas (Country) Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Yemen.
Jericho (Settlement) English, Biblical
Meaning uncertain, possibly related to the Hebrew word יָרֵחַ (yareaḥ) meaning "moon", or otherwise to the Hebrew word רֵיחַ (reyaḥ) meaning "fragrance". This is the name of a city in Palestine, mentioned several times in the Old Testament.
Jerozolima (Settlement) Polish
Polish form of Jerusalem.
Jérusalem (Settlement) French
French form of Jerusalem.
Jerusalém (Settlement) Portuguese
Portuguese form of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem (Settlement) English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Luxembourgish, Afrikaans, Catalan, Bosnian, Biblical
From Hebrew יְרוּשָׁלַיִם (Yerushalayim), from an earlier Canaanite form like Urushalim, probably meaning "established by (the god) Shalim". This is the name of a city in Israel and Palestine. Originally a Canaanite city, it was conquered by the Israelites under King David at the beginning of the 10th century BC. It is now regarded as a holy city by Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Jerusalén (Settlement) Spanish
Spanish form of Jerusalem.
Jerusalim (Settlement) Serbian
Serbian form of Jerusalem.
Jeruzalem (Settlement) Dutch, Slovak, Slovene, Croatian
Dutch, Slovak, Slovene and Croatian form of Jerusalem.
Jordaan (River) Dutch
Dutch form of Jordan (the river).
Jordaania (Country) Estonian
Estonian form of Jordan (the country).
Jordán (River) Spanish, Czech, Slovak, Hungarian
Spanish, Czech, Slovak and Hungarian form of Jordan (the river).
Jordan (River & Country) English, Danish, Norwegian, Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, Macedonian, German, Swedish, Finnish, Estonian, Polish, Slovene, Biblical
River that flows between the countries of Jordan and Israel. The river's name in Hebrew is יַרְדֵן (Yarḏen), and it is derived from יָרַד (yaraḏ) meaning "descend, flow down". The river has lent its name to the country to the east (in German, Swedish, Finnish, Estonian, Polish and Slovene this is only the name of the river, with the name of the country taking a different form).
Jordania (Country) Spanish, Finnish, Polish
Spanish, Finnish and Polish form of Jordan (the country).
Jordanie (Country) French
French form of Jordan (the country).
Jordanië (Country) Dutch
Dutch form of Jordan (the country).
Jordanien (Country) German, Swedish
German and Swedish form of Jordan (the country).
Jordanija (Country) Slovene, Lithuanian
Slovene and Lithuanian form of Jordan (the country).
Jourdain (River) French
French form of Jordan (the river).
Kənan (Region) Azerbaijani
Azerbaijani form of Canaan.
Karmel (Mountain) Biblical Hebrew
Means "garden, vineyard" in Hebrew. This is the name of a mountain in Israel mentioned in the Old Testament.
Keilah (Settlement) Biblical
From Hebrew קְעִילָה (Qeʿila) meaning "fortress, citadel". This was the name of a town in Judah mentioned in the Old Testament.
Kena'an (Region) Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Canaan.
Kenan (Region) Turkish
Turkish form of Canaan.
Lechi (Region) Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Lehi.
Lehi (Region) Biblical
Means "jawbone" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of the site where the hero Samson killed 1,000 men using only a donkey's jawbone.
Masr (Country) Arabic (Egyptian)
Egyptian Arabic transcription of Misr.
Mesr (Country) Persian
Persian form of Misr.
Mısır (Country) Turkish
Turkish form of Misr.
Misr (Country) Arabic, Pashto, Urdu
From a Semitic root possibly meaning "border". This is the Arabic, Pashto and Urdu name for the country of Egypt.
Misri (Country) Akkadian
Akkadian cognate of Misr, referring to ancient Egypt.
Mitzrayim (Country) Biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew cognate of Misr, referring to Egypt.
Mizraim (Country) Hebrew
Modern Hebrew transcription of Mitzrayim, referring to the country of Egypt.
Moriah (Mountain) Biblical
Possibly means "seen by Yahweh" in Hebrew, from the roots רָאָה (raʾa) meaning "to see" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. In the Old Testament this is both the place where Abraham is to sacrifice Isaac and the mountain upon which Solomon builds the temple.
Moriya (Mountain) Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Moriah.
Natzrat (Settlement) Ancient Hebrew, Hebrew
Hebrew form of Nazareth.
Nazareth (Settlement) English, French, Biblical, Biblical Latin
Possibly from Hebrew נֵצֶר (netser) meaning "branch, shoot" or נָצַר (natsar) meaning "watch, guard". This is the name of a town in Galilee in Israel. It was the home town of Jesus.
Ninawa (Settlement) Arabic
Arabic form of Nineveh.
Nineue (Settlement) Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Biblical Greek form of Nineveh.
Nineve (Settlement) Biblical Latin
Biblical Latin form of Nineveh.
Nineveh (Settlement) English, Biblical
From Akkadian 𒉌𒉡𒀀 (Ninua), possibly related to 𒄩 (nūnu) meaning "fish". When written, the name is usually prefixed with 𒌷 indicating a city. This may have referred to an aspect of Ishtar, as from an early time the city was a center of worship of the goddess. The cuneiform symbols used to represent the city's name depict a fish within a house.... [more]
Nínive (Settlement) Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Nineveh.
Ninive (Settlement) French, Italian, German
French, Italian and German form of Nineveh.
Ninua (Settlement) Akkadian
Akkadian form of Nineveh.
Ninwe (Settlement) Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Nineveh.
Purattu (River) Akkadian
Akkadian form of Euphrates.
Qe'ila (Settlement) Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Keilah.
Queila (Settlement) Biblical Portuguese
Portuguese form of Keilah.
Salem (Settlement) English, Biblical
From Hebrew שָׁלֵם (shalem) meaning "complete, safe, peaceful". This is the name of a town in the Old Testament where Melchizedek was king. It is usually identified with Jerusalem. Several places are named after the biblical town, mostly in America.
Santa Ana (Settlement) Spanish
The name of several places in the Spanish-speaking world, in honour of Saint Anna.
Santana (Settlement) Portuguese
The name of several places in the Portuguese-speaking world, in honour of Saint Anna.
Santiago (Settlement) Spanish, Portuguese
This is the name of several cities in Spain and Portugal, so named for Saint James (see the given name Santiago for more information). It is also used for many other cities in the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking worlds, notably the capital city of Chile.
Sela (Settlement) Biblical
Means "rock" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of a city, the capital of Edom. In the Greek and Latin Old Testament the name is translated as Petra, though it may be distinct from the Nabataean city.
Sela' (Settlement) Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Sela.
Shalem (Settlement) Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Salem.
Sharon (Region) Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Means "plain" in Hebrew, referring to the fertile plain near the coast of Israel.
Siria (Country) Italian, Spanish, Albanian, Georgian, Armenian, Thai, Korean
Form of Syria in various languages.
Sirië (Country) Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Syria.
Sīrija (Country) Latvian
Latvian form of Syria.
Sirija (Country) Lithuanian, Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, Slovene, Macedonian
Lithuanian, Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, Slovene and Macedonian form of Syria.
St John (Settlement) English
Name commemorating Saint John. This is the name of several towns in England.
Suriya (Country) Arabic, Tajik, Uzbek
Arabic, Tajik and Uzbek form of Syria.
Suriye (Political Subdivision & Country) Turkish
Turkish form of Syria. This was the name of a province of the Ottoman Empire.
Surya (Country) Hebrew
Hebrew form of Syria.
Syria (Country & Region) English, Polish, Norwegian, Greek, Ancient Roman, Ancient Greek
From Greek Συρία (Syria), which was probably a variant of Assyria, used in an expanded sense to refer to the northern Levant. This was the name of a province of the Roman Empire. It is now the name of a country in western Asia, having gained independence from the Ottoman Empire early in the 20th century.
Syrie (Country) French
French form of Syria.
Syrië (Country) Dutch
Dutch form of Syria.
Syrien (Country) German, Swedish, Danish
German, Swedish and Danish form of Syria.
Syyria (Country) Finnish
Finnish form of Syria.
Tarah (Settlement) Biblical
A place name (an encampment) used in some versions of the Old Testament. It is identical to the personal name Terah.
Teiman (Country) Hebrew
Modern Hebrew form of Teman, used to refer to the country of Yemen.
Teman (Settlement) Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Means "right hand" or "south" in Hebrew. This is an Edomite town in the Old Testament, supposedly named for a grandson of Esau.
Terach (Settlement) Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Tarah.
Ufratu (River) Old Persian
Old Persian form of Euphrates.
Urartu (Region) Akkadian, Armenian, English
From Akkadian 𒆳𒌨𒌒𒂅 (Urartu), meaning unknown, possibly of Old Armenian origin. This was the name of an ancient kingdom that existed between the 9th and 6th centuries BC in eastern Anatolia (modern Armenia and Turkey).
Urdun (River & Country) Arabic
Arabic form of Jordan, usually written with the definite article: الأردن (al-ʾUrdun).
Uruk (Settlement) Akkadian, English
From Sumerian 𒌷 (uru) meaning "city". This was the name of a city-state of ancient Sumer (later Akkad and Babylonia). It was inhabited until the time of the Islamic conquest of the area.
Yəmən (Country) Azerbaijani
Azerbaijani form of Yemen.
Yaman (Country) Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Hindi, Uzbek, Indonesian, Malay
Arabic form of Yemen, properly written with the definite article: اليمن (al-Yaman).
Yarden (River & Country) Biblical Hebrew, Hebrew
Hebrew form of Jordan.
Yémen (Country) French
French form of Yemen.
Yemen (Country) English, Danish, Italian, Spanish, Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Turkish, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Tagalog
From Arabic يمن (Yaman), probably derived from يمين (yamīn) meaning "right hand, south". This is the name of a country at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula.
Yemeni (Country) Greek
Greek form of Yemen.
Yericho (Settlement) Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Jericho.
Yisra'el (Country) Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew form of Israel.
Yordaniya (Country) Bulgarian, Ukrainian
Bulgarian and Ukrainian form of Jordan (the country).