Asgard(Region)Norse Mythology English form of Old Norse Ásgarðr meaning "enclosure of the Æsir", composed of Old Norse áss meaning "god, Æsir" and garðr meaning "enclosure, stronghold". This is the name of the home of the Æsir gods in Norse Mythology.
Atlantic(Body of Water)English From Greek Ἀτλαντικός (Atlantikos), derived from the name of the mythical island of Atlantis. Greek writers used this name to refer to the waters beyond the Pillars of Hercules (the Strait of Gibraltar).
Atlantis(Island)Greek Mythology Derived from Greek Ἄτλας (see Atlas), a mythological king with the same name as the Titan. According to Greek mythology, Atlantis was an island that sank in the Atlantic Ocean.
Bombay(Settlement)French, Spanish, English (Rare) From Portuguese Bombaim, probably derived from Marathi Mumbai, possibly with influence from Portuguese bom bain meaning "good little bay". This is an older English name for Mumbai, officially used until 1995. It is also the form still commonly used in French and Spanish.
Carlisle(Settlement)English Originally called by the Romans Luguvalium meaning "stronghold of Lugus". Later the Brythonic element ker "fort" was appended to the name of the city. This is the name of a city in Cumbria in northern England.
Egypt(Country)English From Latin Aegyptus, itself from Greek Αἴγυπτος (Aigyptos), which was probably derived from Egyptian ḥwt-kꜣ-ptḥ, the name of the temple to the god Ptah in Memphis, meaning "the house of the soul of Ptah". Descendants of the Latin name are used in most European languages to refer to the ancient kingdom and modern country of Egypt. However, the name the ancient Egyptians used to refer to the Nile Valley was Kemet, and the Arabic speakers of modern Egypt call it Masr.
Elysium(Region)Roman Mythology Latin form of Greek Ἠλύσιον (Elysion), which is of unknown origin, perhaps pre-Greek. According to Greek — and later Roman — mythology, Elysium (or the Elysian Fields) was an idyllic afterlife where only the souls of distinguished mortals were admitted.
Lanka(Island)Hinduism Meaning unknown. According to Hindu texts, this was the name of the island stronghold of the demon king Ravana. It is uncertain whether this island can be identified with Sri Lanka, though Sri Lanka does take its name from it.
Lyon(Settlement)French, English, German From Latin Lugdunum, derived from the name of the Celtic god Lugus combined with Gaulish dunon meaning "hill fort, citadel". This is the name of a city in central France.
Nysa(Region)Greek Mythology Possibly from an archaic Greek word meaning "tree". In Greek mythology Nysa was the mountainous region where young Dionysos was raised.
Romilly(Settlement)French From the Latin name Romilius, a derivative of Romulus. This is the name of several communes in northern France.
Sydney(Settlement)English City in Australia that was named after Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney (1733-1800). His title originally came from the name of its first holder, Robert Sidney (1563-1626).
Turan(Region)Persian, Turkish, Azerbaijani, Arabic Historical region in central Asia, originally inhabited by nomadic Iranian peoples and traditionally said to mean "land of Tur". It is mentioned frequently in the 10th-century Persian epic the Shahnameh.
Valhalla(Other)Norse Mythology From Old Norse Valhǫll meaning "hall of the battle-dead", from valr meaning "those slain in battle" and hǫll meaning "hall, manor". In Norse mythology this is the name of Odin's enormous hall where half of all warriors go after they die.