English Place Names

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English names are used in English-speaking countries. See also about English names.
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ABNEY (Settlement) English
From the Old English given name Abba combined with eg "island". This is the name of a town in Derbyshire.
AFRICA (Region) English, Ancient Roman
Of Latin origin, possibly from the Afri people who lived near Carthage in North Africa.
ALBANIA (Region & Country) Late Roman, English, Spanish, Italian
Medieval Latin name for the region which was once occupied by the Illyrian tribe called Albanoi. This is the name of a country in the Balkans.
ALEXANDRIA (Settlement) English, Ancient Roman, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek given name Αλεξανδρος (see ALEXANDER), bestowed by Alexander the Great upon the cities he founded or conquered. This is the name of many cities throughout the world, notably in Egypt.
ALGERIA (Country) English, Italian, Romanian
The name of a country in North Africa, named after its capital city ALGIERS.
ALGIERS (Settlement) English
From Arabic الجزائر (al-Jaza'ir) meaning "the islands". This is the name of the capital city of Algeria, so named because of the islands in its bay.
AMERICA (Region & Country) English, Italian, Romanian, Late Roman
From the name of the explorer AMERIGO Vespucci (1451-1512). This is the name of two continents (North and South America). As well, it is commonly used to refer to the United States of America.
AMSTERDAM (Settlement) Dutch, English, German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, French, Polish
Means "dam on the AMSTEL" in Dutch. This is the name of the capital city of the Netherlands, first mentioned with this name in the 13th century.
ANNESLEY (Settlement) English
From Old English anne "alone, solitary" and leah "woodland, clearing". This is the name of a town in Nottinghamshire.
ANSLEY (Settlement) English
From Old English ansetl "hermitage" and leah "woodland, clearing". This is the name of a town in Warwickshire.
ANTWERP (Settlement) English
From Dutch Antwerpen, meaning uncertain, perhaps from Dutch werf meaning "wharf". This is the name of a city in Belgium.
APPLEBY (Settlement) English
Derived from Old English æppel "apple" and Old Norse býr "farm, settlement". This is the name of towns in England.
APPLETON (Settlement) English
Derived from Old English æppeltun "orchard". This is the name of towns in England.
ARGENTINA (Country) Spanish, English, Portuguese, Italian
From Latin argentinus meaning "silvery", a derivative of argentum meaning "silver". This is the name of a country in South America, arising from a Latinized form of Spanish Río de la Plata meaning "river of silver".
ARMENIA (Country) English, Spanish, Italian, Romanian, Greek, Ancient Roman, Ancient Greek, Ancient Persian
From Greek Αρμενια (Armenia), which was from Old Persian Armina, which is itself probably of Armenia origin. This is the name of a country in the Caucasus region, called Hayastan in Armenian.
ASHLEY (Settlement) English
From Old English æsc "ash tree" and leah "woodland, clearing". This is the name of various towns in England.
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]
ASHWORTH (Settlement) English
From Old English æsc "ash tree" and worþ "enclosure". This was the name of a town in Lancashire.
ASIA (Region) English, Italian, Ancient Greek
Perhaps derived from Akkadian asu, meaning "east".
ASSISI (Settlement) Italian, English, German
From Latin Asisium, which is of unknown, possibly pre-Latin, origin. This is the name of a city in central Italy.
ASSYRIA (Region) English, Ancient Roman, Ancient Greek
From Greek Ασσυρια (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.
ASTON (Settlement) English
From Old English east "east" and tun "enclosure, yard, town". This is the name of many towns in England.
ATHENS (Settlement) English
From Ancient Greek Αθηναι (Athenai), meaning unknown, probably from a pre-Greek language. The Greek goddess ATHENA was probably named for the city, not vice versa. Athens is a city in eastern Greece, emerging as a powerful city-state in the classical period. It has been the capital of the modern country of Greece since 1834.
AUDLEY (Settlement) English
Means "EALDGYÐ's clearing" in Old English. This is the name of a village in Staffordshire, England.
AUSTRALIA (Region & Country) English, Italian, Spanish
Derived from Latin australis meaning "southern". It was formally adopted as the name of the continent (and later country) by the British administrators of the region in 1824.
AYTON (Settlement) English
Derived from Old English ea "river" or eg "island" combined with tun "enclosure, yard, town". This is the name of towns in Berwickshire and North Yorkshire.
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.
BAGLEY (Settlement) English
From Old English bagga "bag, badger" and leah "woodland, clearing". This is the name of various towns in England.
BARDSLEY (Settlement) English
From the Old English name BEORNRÆD and leah "woodland, clearing". This is the name of a village near Manchester.
BAVARIA (Political Subdivision) English, Late Roman
From Late Latin Baiovarii, the name of a Germanic tribe, named after an earlier Gaulish tribe the Boii. This is the name of a state in Germany (called Bayern in German).
BEESLEY (Settlement) English
From Old English beos "bent grass" and leah "woodland, clearing". This was the name of a hamlet or farm in Lancashire, England.
BEIJING (Settlement) Chinese, English
From Chinese 北 (běi) meaning "north" and 京 (jīng) meaning "capital city". This is the name of the capital of China.
BENTLEY (Settlement) English
From Old English beonet "bent grass" and leah "woodland, clearing". This is the name of several English towns.
BENTON (Settlement) English
From Old English beonet "bent grass" and tun "enclosure". This is the name of towns in England.
BERGAMO (Settlement) Italian, English
From Latin Bergomum, possibly from a Celtic word meaning "mountain". This is the name of a city in northern Italy.
BERLIN (Settlement) German, English, French, Polish, Hungarian, Croatian, Serbian
City in Germany, the name of which is of uncertain meaning. It is possibly derived from an Old Slavic stem berl- meaning swamp.
BETHLEHEM (Settlement) English, Biblical
Means "house of bread" in Hebrew, from the roots בַּיִת (bayit) meaning "house" and לֶחֶם (lechem) 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.
BEVERLEY (Settlement) English
From Old English beofor "beaver" and (possibly) licc "stream". This is the name of a city in eastern England.
BLACKBURN (Settlement) English
From Old English blæc "black" and burna "stream". This is the name of a city in Lancashire, England.
BLAKESLEY (Settlement) English
From the Old English byname Blæcwulf "black wolf" combined with leah "woodland, clearing". This is the name of a city in Northamptonshire.
BLIDWORTH (Settlement) English
From the Old English byname Blīþa "happy, blithe" and worþ "enclosure". This is the name of a town in Nottinghamshire, England.
BLOXHAM (Settlement) English
From the Old English byname Blocca and ham meaning "home, homestead". This is the name of a town in Oxfordshire.
BOHEMIA (Region) English, Spanish, Late Roman
From Latin Boiohaemum, from the name of the Gaulish tribe the Boii combined with Germanic heim "home". This is the name of a historical region within the Czech Republic. The region is called Čechy in Czech, while the country is called Česko.
BOLIVIA (Country) Spanish, English, Italian
From the surname BOLÍVAR, in honour of the revolutionary Simón Bolívar. This is the name of a country in South America.
BOLOGNA (Settlement) Italian, English, German
From Latin Bononia, possibly derived from a Celtic word meaning "settlement". This is the name of a city in northern italy.
BRADFORD (Settlement) English
From Old English brad "broad" and ford "ford, river crossing". This is the name of a city in West Yorkshire, as well as several other towns.
BRADLEY (Settlement) English
From Old English brad "broad" and leah "woodland, clearing". This is the name of several towns in England.
BRAZIL (Country) English, Croatian, Serbian
From the name of a type of tree, called pau-brasil in Portuguese (brazilwood in English). It may ultimately derive from Portuguese brasa meaning "ember". This is the name of a country in South America.
BRISTOL (Settlement) English
Name of a city in southwest England, derived from Old English Brycgstow meaning "the site of the bridge".
BRITAIN (Region) English
From Britannia, the Latin name for the island of Great Britain, the land of the Britons. It derives from the name of the Britons, recorded in Greek in the 4th century BC as Πρεττανικη (Prettanike), and reconstructed as Proto-Brythonic *Priteni, possibly meaning "tattooed people".
BRITTANY (Region) English
From Britannia (see BRITAIN). This is the name of a region in northwestern France, so called because many Britons settled there after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. It had earlier been called Armorica. In the Middle Ages it was sometimes called Britannia Minor to distinguish it from the island of Great Britain. In French, both the island and the region are called Bretagne.
BRODIE (Settlement) English
Probably from Gaelic broth meaning "ditch, mire". This is the name of an estate and castle in Moray, Scotland.
BROOKLYN (Settlement) English
Name of a borough of New York City, originally derived from Dutch Breukelen meaning "broken land".
BUCKLEY (Settlement) English
From Old English bucc "buck, male deer" and leah "woodland, clearing". This is the name of a few minor towns in England.
BUDAPEST (Settlement) Hungarian, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish
Combination of BUDA and PEST, two cities that merged in 1873. This is the name of the capital city of Hungary.
BULGARIA (Country) Late Roman, English, Spanish, Italian
From the name of the Turkic tribe of the Bulgars, possibly from a Turkic root meaning "mixed". This is the name of a country in southeastern Europe.
BURNHAM (Settlement) English
From Old English burna "stream, spring" and ham "home". This is the name of several towns in England.
BURTON (Settlement) English
From Old English burg "fortress, castle" and tun "enclosure". This is the name of several English towns.
CAIRO (Settlement) English
From Arabic القاهرة (al-Qahirah) meaning "the victorious", in honour of the conquering Fatimid caliph al-Mu'izz li Din Allah (932-975). This is the name of the capital city of Egypt.
CANADA (Country) English, French, Italian, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian
Derived from the Iroquoian word kanata meaning "village". This word was used by Native Americans to direct French explorer Jacques Cartier to Stadacona. Cartier used the word to refer to the region.
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.
CASTILE (Region) English
From Spanish Castilla, ultimately from Late Latin castellum meaning "castle". This was the name of a medieval kingdom in Spain.
CATALONIA (Region) English
From Catalan Catalunya, of uncertain meaning, possibly from Latin castellum "castle" or Gauthia Launia "land of the Goths". This is the name of a region in eastern Spain.
CHAD (Body of Water & Country) English, Spanish
From Arabic تشاد (Tshad), derived from a Kanuri word meaning "lake, large expanse of water". This is the name of a lake in central Africa, as well as the country that is named after it. The lake also borders Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon.
CHADWICK (Settlement) English
Means "village belonging to CHAD" in Old English. This is the name of towns in Lancashire and Warwickshire.
CHELSEA (Settlement) English
Originally derived from Old English and meaning "landing place for chalk or limestone". This is a district in London.
CHESHIRE (Region & Political Subdivision) English
Shortened form of Chestershire, a combination of CHESTER and shire.
CHESTER (Settlement) English
From Latin castrum meaning "camp, fortress". This is the name of a city in Cheshire, England.
CHINA (Country) English, German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Sanskrit
From Persian چین (Chin), probably derived via Sanskrit चीन (China) from Qin, the name of a dynasty that ruled in China in the 3rd century BC. In China the name Zhongguo is used to refer to the country.
COCKBURN (Settlement) English
From Old English cocc "rooster" and burna "stream". This was the name of a town in Berwickshire, Scotland.
COLOGNE (Settlement) French, English
French form of Latin Colonia, shortened from Colonia Agrippina meaning "colony of Agrippina", named after the wife of Emperor Claudius. This is the name of a city in western Germany.
COLOMBIA (Country) Spanish, English, Italian
Variant of COLUMBIA, used as the name of a country in South America.
COLTON (Settlement) English
Means "COLA's town" in Old English. This is the name of several English towns.
COLUMBIA (Region, Settlement, Political Subdivision & River) English, Italian, Spanish
Named after the explorer Christopher Columbus, called Cristoforo Colombo in Italian (see the surname COLOMBO). This is the name of several cities in the Americas (including the District of Columbia, also called Washington D.C.), and a river in Canada and the United States. It is also a name used historically to refer to the New World.
CONGO (River & Country) English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Danish
From Kongo, of uncertain origin, the name of a kingdom in central Africa that existed from the 14th to 19th century. The Congo River (also called the Zaire River) was named after the kingdom. Belgian and French colonies were established in the 19th century, named after the river, which eventually led to two African countries, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) and the Republic of the Congo.
CRAWFORD (Settlement) English
From Old English crawe "crow" and ford "ford, river crossing". This is the name various small towns in England.
CROATIA (Country) English, Late Roman
From Croatian Hrvatska, from medieval Slavic Khorvatu, of unknown meaning. This is the name of a country in the Balkan region of southeastern Europe.
CZECHIA (Country) English
English form of ČECHY (via Polish Czechy), used as an alternative name for the Czech Republic (and not as a name for Bohemia).
CZECHOSLOVAKIA (Country) English
Combination of CZECHIA and SLOVAKIA. This was the name of a country that existed between 1918 and 1993, at which time it split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
DANUBE (River) English
From Latin Danubius, from Indo-European Danu, probably meaning "river, water". This is the name of a river which flows east through Europe to the Black Sea.
DEBEN (River) English
Means "deep" in Old English. This is the name of a river in Suffolk.
DEBENHAM (Settlement) English
From the Old English river name DEBEN combined with ham meaning "home, homestead". This is the name of a town in Suffolk, on the River Deben.
DELHI (Settlement) English
From Sanskrit दिल्ली (Dilli), possibly from देहली (dehali) meaning "threshold", or possibly from the name of a 1st-century BC king. This is the name of a large city in northern India, which includes the district of New Delhi, the Indian capital.
DELPHI (Settlement) Ancient Roman, English
Latinized form of Greek Δελφοι (Delphoi), from δελφυς (delphys) "womb". This was the name of an ancient Greek city, the site of an oracle of Apollo.
DENMARK (Country) English
From Danish Danmark, derived from the ethnic name Dane, which is possibly from Germanic den meaning "low ground", combined with mark meaning "borderland". This is the name of a country in northern Europe.
DERBY (Settlement) English
Means "deer farm" in Old Norse. This is the name of a city in England.
DEVON (Political Subdivision) English
From the name of the Dumnonii, a Celtic tribe. This is the name of a county in England.
DUDLEY (Settlement) English
Means "DUDDA's clearing" in Old English. This is the name of a city in the West Midlands, England.
EATON (Settlement) English
Derived from Old English ea "river" and tun "enclosure, yard, town". This is the name of several English towns.
ENGLAND (Country) English, German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian
From Old English Englaland meaning "land of the Angles", the Angles being one of the Germanic tribes that settled in the area in the post-Roman period.
ESSEN (Settlement) German, English
From older Astnide, possibly a derivative of Old High German asc meaning "ash tree". This is the name of a city in Germany, founded in the 9th century.
ETHIOPIA (Country) English
From Greek Αιθιοπια (Aithiopia), derived from αιθω (aitho) meaning "to burn" and ωψ (ops) meaning "face", referring to the skin colour of the inhabitants. This is the name of a country in eastern Africa.
EUPHRATES (River) English, Greek, Ancient Roman, Ancient Greek
From Greek Ευφρατης (Euphrates), the name of a river in Mesopotamia. It is derived from Old Persian Ufratu, itself from Elamite or Sumerian, of unknown meaning.
EWART (Settlement) English
From Old English ea "river" and worþ "enclosure". This is the name of a town in Northumberland, England.
FARNHAM (Settlement) English
From Old English fearn "fern" and ham "home" or ham "water meadow, enclosure". This is the name of several towns in England, notably in Surrey.
FINLAND (Country) English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch
From Old Norse Finnr, which referred to the Finn and Sami peoples, combined with land. This is the name of a country in northern Europe, called Suomi in Finnish.
FLANDERS (Region) English
From Middle Dutch Vlander, from a Germanic root meaning "waterlogged", referring to the marshy landscape of Flanders. This is the name of the northern portion of Belgium.
FOULDEN (Settlement) English
From Old English fugol meaning "bird" and dun meaning "hill". This is the name of a town in Norfolk.
FRANCE (Country) French, English
From Latin Francia meaning "land of the Franks". The Franks were the Germanic tribe who settled in the region in the 3rd century. They derived their tribal name from the name of a type of spear that they used.
FRANCONIA (Region) Late Roman, English, Italian, Spanish
Latin name derived from Frank, the name of a Germanic tribe. This is the name of a region in southern Germany.
FRIULI (Region) Italian, English, Spanish
From the name of the Roman town of Forum Iulii (now called Cividale del Friuli) meaning "forum of Julius". This is the name of a region in northeast Italy.
GARY (Settlement) English
City in Indiana which was named after businessman Elbert Henry GARY (1846-1927), the founder of U.S. Steel.
GENOA (Settlement) English
From Latin Genua, probably derived from genu meaning "knee". This is the name of a port city in northwestern Italy. It is called Genova in Italian.
GERMANY (Country) English
From Latin Germania, first attested in the writings of Julius Caesar, used to refer to the areas east of the Rhine and north of the Danube. The origin of the term is uncertain. This is an English exonym corresponding to German Deutschland.
GHANA (Country) English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
From the name of the Ghana Empire, which was located in the southwestern Sahara and existed up to the 13th century. Ghana, meaning "warrior" in Mande, was actually the title of the rulers, while the empire itself was more properly known as Awkar. In 1957 this was adopted as the name of the newly independent country of Ghana, formerly the British colony Gold Coast, despite the fact that the country lies outside the empire's territory.
GLYME (River) English
Means "bright stream" in Brythonic. This is the name of a river in Oxfordshire, England.
GLYMPTON (Settlement) English
Derived from the name of the river GLYME and Old English tun "enclosure, yard, town". This is the name of small town in Oxfordshire, England.
GRANTHAM (Settlement) English
From Old English grand meaning "gravel" and ham meaning "home, estate, settlement". This is the name of a town in Lincolnshire.
GREECE (Country) English
English form of Latin Graecia, the name used by the Romans for the land of the Greeks, derived from Greek Γραικος (Graikos), which is of uncertain origin. It is possibly derived from the city of Graia in Boeotia.
GUINEA (Region, Country & Island) English, Italian, Spanish, German
From Portuguese Guiné, which is of unknown meaning, possibly of Berber origin. This name was used by the Portuguese to refer to a portion of western Africa. It was also applied by westerners to the island of New Guinea starting in the 16th century. It is now the name or part of the name of the countries of Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea and Papua New Guinea.
HAILEY (Settlement) English
From Old English heg "hay" and leah "woodland, clearing". This is the name of a town in Oxfordshire, England.
HAMILTON (Settlement) English
Means "crooked hill" from Old English hamel "crooked, mutilated" and dun "hill". This was the name of a town in Leicestershire, England (which no longer exists). After the town name became a surname, it was used for several other cities, including ones in Scotland, Canada, Australia and the United States.
HARDEN (Settlement) English
From Old English hara "hare" and denu "valley". This is the name of a town in West Yorkshire.
HARFORD (Settlement) English
From Old English heort "hart, male deer" or here "army" combined with ford "ford, river crossing". This is the name of towns in England.
HARLEY (Settlement) English
From Old English hara "hare" and leah "woodland, clearing". This is the name of towns in England.
HOLLAND (1) (Political Subdivision & Country) Dutch, English, German
From Old Dutch holt "forest" and lant "land". This is the name of two provinces (North and South Holland) in the Netherlands. It is sometimes used to refer to the entire country of the Netherlands.
HOLLAND (2) (Settlement) English
From Old English hoh "point of land, heel" and land "land". This is the name of several towns in England.
HOLSTEIN (Political Subdivision & Region) German, English, Dutch
From the name of a Saxon tribe, derived from Old Saxon holt meaning "wood" and sat meaning "inhabitant". This is the name of a historical region in Germany, near the Danish border. It forms part of the name of the modern German state of Schleswig-Holstein.
HOUSTON (Settlement) Scottish, English
Means "Hugh's town", from the given name HUGH and Old English tun meaning "enclosure, town". This is the name of a town in Scotland. The American city of Houston is named after the Texas governor Sam Houston, whose surname is derived from the Scottish town.
HUNGARY (Country) English
From Latin Hungaria, derived from Byzantine Greek Ουγγροι (Oungroi), from Turkic Onogur meaning "ten tribes". This is the name of a country in eastern Europe which was settled by the Hungarians in the 9th century. Because they were identified with the Huns, the H was added to the beginning of their Latin name. The Hungarian name for the country is Magyarország.
HUNNACOTT (Settlement) English
From Old English hunig "honey" or the given name Huna combined with cot "cottage". This is the name of a small town in Devon, England.
HUXLEY (Settlement) English
From Old English hux "insult, scorn" (possibly) and leah "woodland, clearing". This is the name of a town in Cheshire, England.
INDIA (Country) English, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Norwegian, Romanian, Ancient Roman, Ancient Greek
Derived from the name of the INDUS River. In many languages of India, the name Bharat is used to refer to the country.
INDIANA (Political Subdivision) English
Means "land of the Indians". This is the name of an American state.
INDONESIA (Country) Indonesian, English, Italian, Spanish, Late Greek
From Greek Ινδος (Indos), referring to the INDUS, combined with νησος (nesos) meaning "island". This name has been used since the 18th century by colonial powers to refer to the Indonesian archipelago and since 1945 to refer to the independent nation.
INDUS (River) English, Ancient Roman
From Persian Hindu, which was from Sanskrit सिन्धु (Sindhu) meaning "body of trembling water, river". This is the name of a river in Pakistan and India.
IRAN (Country) Persian, Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Croatian, Serbian
Derived from Middle Persian Eran, related to Old Iranian Arya meaning "Iranian, Aryan". This is the name of a country in western Asia, formerly called Persia in the West.
IRAQ (Country) Arabic, English, Italian
From Arabic العراق (al-'Iraq), probably derived from the name of the ancient Sumerian/Akkadian city of URUK. This is the name of a country in the Middle East.
IRELAND (Country & Island) English
Derived from Irish Gaelic ÉIRE and English land.
ISRAEL (Country) English, Biblical
From the name of the Old Testament hero Jacob, who was also called ISRAEL.
ITALY (Country) English
Anglicized form of Italia, originally applied by the Greeks to the south of the Italian Peninsula. It may have been borrowed from Oscan Víteliú possibly meaning "land of bulls". According to Roman mythology, the region was named for ITALUS, though in fact it was he who was named for the region.
JAPAN (Country) English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Croatian, Serbian
From Portuguese Japão, which was derived from a Malay form of Riben, the Chinese reading of NIPPON.
JERICHO (Settlement) English, Biblical
Meaning uncertain, possibly related to the Hebrew word יָרֵחַ (yareach) meaning "moon", or otherwise to the Hebrew word רֵיחַ (reyach) meaning "fragrant". This is the name of a city in Palestine, mentioned several times in the Old Testament.
JERUSALEM (Settlement) English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, 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.
JORDAN (River & Country) English, Danish, Norwegian, Croatian, Serbian, German, Swedish, Finnish, Polish, Biblical
River which flows between the countries of Jordan and Israel. The river's name in Hebrew is יַרְדֵן (Yarden), and it is derived from יָרַד (yarad) meaning "descend" or "flow down". The river has lent its name to the country to the east (in German, Swedish, Finnish and Polish this is only the name of the river, with the name of the country taking a different form).
KAZAKHSTAN (Country) English, Russian, Ukrainian, French
From Kazakh Қазақстан (Qazaqstan), from the ethnic name қазақ (qazaq), which is probably of Turkic origin, combined with the Persian suffix ستان (stan) meaning "land of". This is the name of a country in central Asia.
KENYA (Country & Mountain) English, Eastern African, Kikuyu, Swahili, French, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
The country is named for Mount Kenya, which in the Kikuyu language is called Kĩrĩnyaga meaning "the one having stripes".
KIMBERLEY (1) (Settlement) English
Means either "CYNEBURGA's field", "CYNEBALD's field" or "CYNEMÆR's field". This is the name of towns in Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire and Norfolk.
KIMBERLEY (2) (Settlement) English
City in South Africa which was named after John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley (1826-1902). His title was taken from the name of the town of KIMBERLEY (1) in Norfolk.
KOREA (Country) English, German, Dutch, Finnish, Czech
From medieval Latin Corea, itself derived from GORYEO, the name of a kingdom which ruled most of the Korean Peninsula from the 10th to 14th centuries. This is the name of two countries, North and South Korea. Hanguk and Joseon are the Korean names for the countries.
KYNASTON (Settlement) English
Means "CYNEFRITH's town" in Old English. This is the name of hamlets in Herefordshire and Shropshire.
LANGLEY (Settlement) English
From Old English lang "long" and leah "woodland, clearing". This is the name of numerous towns in the United Kingdom and North America.
LINCOLN (Settlement) English
Derived from Brythonic lindo "lake, pool" and Latin colonia "colony". This is a city in eastern England, called Lindum Colonia by the Romans.
LINDSEY (Region) English
Means "LINCOLN island" in Old English. This is the name of a region and historical kingdom in Lincolnshire.
LINTON (Settlement) English
From Old English lind "linden tree" or lin "flax" combined with tun meaning "enclosure, yard, town". This is the name of several towns in the United Kingdom.
LONDON (Settlement) English, German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Russian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene
From Latin Londinium, of unknown meaning. This is the capital city of the United Kingdom.
LORNE (Region) English
Possibly from the name of the legendary king of Dál Riata, Loarn mac Eirc. This is the name of a region in western Scotland.
LORRAINE (Political Subdivision) French, English
Ultimately from Latin Lothari regnum meaning "kingdom of LOTHAR". Lothar was a Frankish king, the great-grandson of Charlemagne, whose realm was in the part of France now called Lorraine, or in German Lothringen.
LYDIA (Region) Ancient Greek, English
An ancient region on the west coast of Asia Minor, said to be named for the legendary king LYDOS.
LYNDON (Settlement) English
From Old English lind "linden tree" and dun meaning "hill". This is the name of a few towns in the United Kingdom.
MAGHREB (Region) English
English form of MAGHRIB (the region).
MARRAKESH (Settlement) English
From Arabic مرّاكش (Marrakush), possibly from Berber Murt n Akush meaning "land of God". This is the name of a city in Morocco.
MEDINA (Settlement) English
English form of Arabic المدينة (al-Madinah) meaning "the city". This is the name of a city in Saudi Arabia, considered a holy site in Islam because the Prophet Muhammad was based there for a period.
MEXICO (Country & Settlement) English, French
From Spanish México, itself derived from Nahuatl Mehxico. There are many theories regarding the ultimate origin, including Nahuatl metztli meaning "moon" combined with xictli meaning "navel". This is the name of a country in North America, as well as its capital city (the country is named after the city). In French Mexico is the name of the capital city, while the country is called Mexique.
MILAN (Settlement) English, French
From Latin Mediolanum, perhaps derived from Celtic elements meaning "middle of the plain". This is the name of a major city in Italy.
MONTANA (Political Subdivision) English
Derived from Latin montanus "mountainous". This is the name of an American state.
MOROCCO (Country) English
The name of a country in North Africa, named after the city MARRAKESH. In Arabic the country is named al-Maghrib (see Maghrib).
NAPLES (Settlement) English
From Latin Neapolis, from Greek Νεαπολις (Neapolis) meaning "new city". This is the name of a city in southern Italy, originally founded as a Greek colony.
NAZARETH (Settlement) English, French, Biblical, Biblical Latin
Possibly means "branch" in Hebrew. This is the name of a town in Galilee in Israel. It was the home town of Jesus.
NEPAL (Country) Nepali, Indian, Hindi, English, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Sanskrit
From Sanskrit नेपाल (Nepal), of unknown meaning. This is the name of a landlocked country in south Asia.
NIGER (River & Country) English, French, Italian, German, Dutch, Swedish, Croatian, Serbian, Late Roman
Meaning unknown, possibly of Berber origin, though influenced by Latin niger "black". This is the name of a river in western Africa (and a country which is named after it).
NIGERIA (Country) English, French, Italian, Spanish, German
From the name of the NIGER River, applied in the 19th century to the British colonial territory in western Africa. It continued to be used after the territory became an independent country in 1960.
NILE (River) English
From Latin Nilus, which was from Greek Νειλος (Neilos), possibly of Semitic origin meaning "river". This is the name of a long river in Africa.
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]
NORWAY (Country) English
From Old English Norþweg meaning "north way". This is the name of a country in Scandinavia in northern Europe.
NUBIA (Region) English, Late Roman
Possibly derives from the Egyptian word nbw meaning "gold". This was the name of an ancient region and kingdom in Africa, south of Egypt.
OLYMPUS (Mountain) Ancient Roman, English, Dutch
Latinized form of OLYMPOS.
PADUA (Settlement) English, German
From Italian Padova, Latin Patavium, of unknown meaning. This is the name of a city in northern Italy.
PAKISTAN (Country) Urdu, Punjabi, English, Italian, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Polish, Slovak, Russian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Serbian
From Persian پاک (pak) meaning "pure" and the suffix ستان (stan) meaning "land of". The name was coined in 1933 by the Pakistani nationalist Choudhry Rahmat Ali who justified it as an acronym of Punjab, Afghania, Kashmir and Sindh, plus the final three letters of Baluchistan.
PARIS (Settlement) French, English, German
From the ancient Celtic tribe known as the Parisii. This is the capital city of France.
PAVIA (Settlement) Italian, English
From Late Latin Papia, of unknown meaning. This is the name of a city in northern Italy. In classical Latin it was called Ticinum.
PEKING (Settlement) German, Dutch, Czech, English (Archaic)
German, Dutch and Czech form of BEIJING, as well as an older English form.
PERSIA (Country) Ancient Roman, English, Spanish, Italian
Latin form of Greek Περσις (Persis), from Old Persian Parsa. This is the name used in the West for a region in western Asia, as well as several empires which were based there, including the Achaemenid Empire, Parthian Empire, and Sasanian Empire. This was also the Western name for the country of Iran until 1935, when the king requested that the native name Iran be used instead.
PERU (Country) English, Portuguese, German, Dutch
From Spanish Perú, older Birú, which was possibly derived from the name of a chieftain (who nevertheless resided in modern-day Panama).
PESARO (Settlement) Italian, English
From Latin Pisaurum, of uncertain meaning. This is the name of a city in central Italy.
PEYTON (Settlement) English
Means "PÆGA's town". This is the name of a town in Sussex.
PHILADELPHIA (Settlement) Biblical, English
Means "brotherly love" from Greek φιλεω (phileo) "to love" and αδελφος (adelphos) "brother". This was the name of a city in Asia Minor mentioned in Revelation in the New Testament. It is now known as Alaşehir (in Turkey). It is also the name of a city in the United States.
POLAND (Country) English
From the name of the Slavic tribe of the Poles, derived from the medieval Slavic word polje meaning "field", combined with land. This is the name of a country in eastern Europe.
PORTO (Settlement) Portuguese, English
Modern form of PORTUS CALE. This is the name of a city in Portugal.
PORTUGAL (Country) Portuguese, English, French, Spanish, Galician, Catalan, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Croatian, Serbian
From Portugale, which was derived from PORTUS CALE, the old name of the city of Porto. The name of the city was later applied to the entire country.
PRAGUE (Settlement) English, French
From Czech Praha, possibly from the Slavic root práh meaning "ford". This is the name of the capital city of the Czech Republic.
PRETORIA (Settlement) Southern African, Afrikaans, Dutch, English
From the surname PRETORIUS. This is the name of a city in South Africa, named after the 19th-century Boer leader Andries Pretorius.
PRIESTLEY (Settlement) English
From Old English preost "priest" and leah "woodland, clearing". This is the name of a few small towns in England.
PROVENCE (Region) French, English, German
From Latin provincia meaning "province", a Roman territorial division. This is the name a region in southern France, originally acquiring its name because it was the first Roman province beyond the Alps.
QUEBEC (Settlement & Political Subdivision) English
English form of French Québec, derived from the Algonquin word kepec meaning "narrows", referring to the Saint Lawrence River near Quebec city. This is the name of a Canadian province and also the capital city of that province.
RAMSEY (Settlement) English
Means "garlic island", derived from Old English hramsa "garlic" and eg "island". This is the name of villages in England.
RAYNE (Settlement) English
Possibly from an Old English word meaning "shelter". This is the name of a town in Essex.
RENNES (Settlement) French, English
From Latin Condate Riedonum, derived from the name of the Gaulish tribe of the Redones. This is the name of a town in Brittany, France.
ROMAGNA (Region & Political Subdivision) Italian, English, German
From Latin ROMANIA, in this case the name of a historic region on the Adriatic coast of Italy (part of the modern administrative region of Emilia-Romagna).
ROMANIA (Country & Region) English, Italian, Ancient Roman
From Latin meaning "land of the Romans" (see ROME). This is the name of a country in eastern Europe, so named in the 16th century because of its historic and linguistic connections to the Roman Empire.... [more]
ROME (Settlement) English, French, Dutch
Meaning uncertain, from Latin Roma. This is the name of the capital city of Italy, formerly the capital of the Roman Kingdom, Republic and Empire. According to legend the city was named for ROMULUS.
ROMILEY (Settlement) English
From Old English rum "roomy, spacious" and leah "woodland, clearing". This was the name of a town that is now part of Greater Manchester.
ROYSTON (Settlement) English
Means "Royse's town" in Old English. The given name Royse was a medieval variant of ROSE. This is the name of a town in Hertfordshire.
RUS (Region) Russian, Ukrainian, English, German
Possibly of Old Norse origin meaning "rowers". This was the name of a medieval Slavic state of eastern Europe.
RUSSIA (Country) English, Italian, Late Roman
Derived from the medieval state of RUS, now applied to a much larger area of Europe and Asia.
RYLEY (Settlement) English
From Old English ryge "rye" and leah "woodland, clearing". This is the name of a town in Lancashire, England.
SAMARA (Settlement & River) Russian, English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French, German
Meaning unknown, possibly of Kyrgyz origin. This is the name of a city in Russia, founded in the 16th century, as well as the river on which it is situated.
SAMARRA (Settlement) Arabic, English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French, German
This is the name of a city in Iraq, the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate in the 9th century. It was possibly built at the site of the ancient Assyrian city of Surmarrati, which is of uncertain meaning.
SANDFORD (Settlement) English
From Old English sand "sand" and ford "ford, river crossing". This is the name of several towns in England.
SAXONY (Region & Political Subdivision) English
From the name of the Germanic tribe of the Saxons, ultimately derived from Germanic sahs meaning "knife". This is the name of a historical region in Germany, and appears int he names of the German states of Saxony, Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.
SCHWYZ (Settlement & Political Subdivision) German, English, Spanish
Meaning uncertain, possibly related to Old High German suedan "to burn" or possibly of Celtic origin. This is the name of a town (and a canton named for it) in central Switzerland.
SCOTLAND (Country) English
Means "land of the Scots", from Latin Scoti meaning "Gaelic speaker". This is the name of a country (part of the United Kingdom) in the north of the island of Great Britain.
SEABROOK (Settlement) English
From the old name of a river combined with Old English broc "stream". This is the name of a town in Buckinghamshire, England.
SELBY (Settlement) English
From Old Norse selja "willow, sallow" and býr "farm, settlement". This is the name of a city near York in England.
SHENANDOAH (River) English, Native American, Iroquois
Meaning uncertain, possibly of Iroquois origin. This is the name of a river in the eastern United States.
SHERBORNE (Settlement) English
From Old English scir "bright" and burna "spring, fountain, stream". This is the name of several towns in England.
SHERBURN (Settlement) English
Variant of SHERBORNE, also the name of several English towns.
SIDNEY (Island) English
Means "wide island", from Old English sid "wide" and eg "island". This is the name of a place in Surrey.
SILESIA (Region) English, Spanish, Ancient Roman
From Mount ŚLĘŻA or the River ŚLĘZA. This is the name of a historical region in southern Poland, with portions in the Czech Republic and Germany.
SLOVAKIA (Country) English, Norwegian, Finnish
From Slovák, the Slovak form of medieval Slavic slovene, referring to the tribe of the Slavs. This is the name of a country in central Europe.
SLOVENIA (Country) English, Italian, Romanian, Norwegian, Finnish
From Slovene, the language of the Slovenes, derived from the medieval Slavic tribal name slovene meaning "Slavs". This is the name of a country in central Europe.
SPAIN (Country) English
Derived from Hispania, the Latin name of the Iberian Peninsula, which is of uncertain origin. It could be derived from Punic I-Shaphan meaning "land of the rabbits".
STIRLING (Settlement) English
Meaning unknown. This is the name of a city in Scotland.
ST JOHN (Settlement) English
Name commemorating Saint JOHN. This is the name of several towns in England.
STOCKHOLM (Settlement) Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, English, German, Dutch, French
From Swedish stock "log" and holme "islet". The islet probably referred to Helgeandsholmen in central Stockholm. This is the name of the capital city of Sweden. The first written mention of the name occurs in 1252.
SUDAN (Country) English, Arabic, German, Italian
From Arabic سُود (sud) meaning "black", referring to the darker skin of the inhabitants. This is the name of a country in Africa. In Arabic it is properly written with the definite article: السُودان (al-Sudan).
SWEDEN (Country) English
From Middle Dutch Zweden, ultimately from the Old Norse ethnic name Svíar "Swede", itself possibly from Proto-Norse Swihoniz meaning "one's own tribe". This is the name of a country in northern Europe.
SWITZERLAND (Country) English
From Switzer, a word meaning "Swiss", ultimately derived from the name of the Swiss town and canton of SCHWYZ, plus land. This is the name of a country in central Europe.
SYDNEY (Settlement) English
City in Australia which 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).
SYRIA (Country & Region) English, Polish, Ancient Roman, Ancient Greek
From Greek Συρια (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.
TATHAM (Settlement) English
From the Old English given name TATA combined with ham meaning "homestead". This is the name of a town in Lancashire.
TATTON (Settlement) English
From the Old English given name TATA combined with tun meaning "enclosure, yard, town". This is the name of a town in Cheshire.
TEHRAN (Settlement) Persian, English
From Persian تهران (Tehran), meaning unknown. This is the name of the capital city of Iran.
THAILAND (Country) English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Combination of THAI and land. This is the name of a country in southeastern Asia, formerly called Siam.
THORNLEY (Settlement) English
From Old English þorn "thorn" and leah "woodland, clearing". This is the name of several towns in England and Scotland.
THORNTON (Settlement) English
From Old English þorn "thorn" and tun "enclosure, yard, town". This is the name of several English towns.
TOKYO (Settlement) Japanese, English, French
From Japanese 東 (tou) meaning "east" and 京 (kyou) meaning "capital city". This is the name of the capital of Japan.
TRENT (1) (River) English
River in England, possibly from the Celtic elements tri "across" and sant "travel", a reference to its frequent floodings.
TRENT (2) (Settlement) English
English form of TRENTO.
TRENTON (Settlement) English
Means "TRENT's town". This is the name of a New Jersey city established in the 17th century by William Trent.
TURKEY (Country) English
From Latin Turcia, derived from the ethnonym Turk, which is from Old Turkic possibly meaning "ancestry". This is the name of a country situated on the Anatolian peninsula.
UPTON (Settlement) English
From Old English upp "up" and tun "enclosure, yard, town". This is the name of various towns in England.
URAL (Region & River) Russian, English, German, Turkish, Bashkir
Meaning unknown, possibly from Turkic aral meaning "island, boundary". This is the name of a mountain range and a river in western Russia.
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.
VALENCIA (Settlement & Region) Spanish, Italian, English, German
The name of a city and surrounding region in eastern Spain, originally named in Latin Valentia (Edetanorum) meaning "strength (of the Edetani people)", and derived from Latin valentius "strength, vigour", from valens "strong, vigourous". Besides the city in Spain, this is also the name of a city in Venezuala.
VERONA (Settlement) Italian, Spanish, English, Ancient Roman
Meaning unknown, possibly of Latin, Gallic or Etruscan origin. This is the name of a city in northern Italy.
VICTORIA (Political Subdivision, Settlement & Body of Water) English
From the given name VICTORIA. It has generally been bestowed in honour of Queen Victoria (1819-1901). This is the name of many places in the former British Empire, including an Australian state and a Canadian city.
VIETNAM (Country) English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish
From Việt Nam, meaning "southern Yue", derived from Sino-Vietnamese 越 (việt), referring to the Yue people, and 南 (nam) "south". This is the name of a country in southeastern Asia.
WAKEFIELD (Settlement) English
From Old English wacu "wake, vigil" and feld "field". This is the name of a city in England.
WALMERSLEY (Settlement) English
Meaning uncertain. The final element is Old English leah "woodland, clearing". The first element may be a given name such as WEALDMÆR or WEALHMÆR. This is the name of a town near Manchester.
WARSAW (Settlement) English
From Polish Warszawa, derived from the given name Warsz, a short form of WARCISŁAW. This is the name of the capital city of Poland.
WARWICK (Settlement) English
From Old English wer "weir, dam" and wíc "village, town". This is the name of a town in England.
WASHINGTON (Settlement & Political Subdivision) English
Means "settlement belonging to Wassa's people", from the given name WASSA and Old English tun meaning "enclosure, yard, town". This is the name of a town in northern England. It is also the name of the capital city and a state in the United States, both named after the president George Washington (1732-1799), whose surname was derived from the name of the English town.
WEMBLEY (Settlement) English
Means "WEMBA's clearing" in Old English. This was the name of a town that is now part of Greater London.
WESTCOTT (Settlement) English
From Old English west "west" and cot "cottage". This is the name of several towns in England.
WESTLEY (Settlement) English
From Old English west "west" and leah "woodland, clearing". This is the name of a few small English towns.
WHITNEY (Settlement) English
Probably from Old English hwit "white" and eg "island". This is the name of a small town in Herefordshire.
WICKHAM (Settlement) English
From Old English wíc "village, town" (of Latin origin) and ham "home, settlement". This is the name of a few towns in England.
WILLOUGHBY (Settlement) English
From Old English wilig meaning "willow" and Old Norse býr "farm, settlement". This is the name of several towns in England.
WILTON (Settlement) English
From Old English wilig meaning "willow", well meaning "well, spring, water hole", or the name of the River WYLYE, combined with tun "enclosure, yard, town". This is the name of various towns in England.
WINCHESTER (Settlement) English
Derived from Venta, of Celtic origin, and Latin castrum meaning "camp, fortress". This is the name of a city in southern England.
WINSLOW (Settlement) English
Means "WINE's hill" in Old English. This is the name of a town in Buckinghamshire.
WINTHROPE (1) (Settlement) English
Means "Wine's village", from the given name WINE and Old English þrop "village". This is the name of a town in Lincolnshire.
WINTHROPE (2) (Settlement) English
Means "Wigmund's village", from the given name WIGMUND and Old English þrop "village". This is the name of a town in Nottinghamshire.
WINTON (Settlement) English
Means "WINE's enclosure" in Old English. This is the name of various towns in England.
WORTHAM (Settlement) English
From Old English worþ "enclosure" and ham "home, settlement". This is the name of a town in Suffolk.
WYLYE (River) English
Possibly from a Celtic word meaning "tricky". This is the name of a river in southern England.
WYMONDHAM (Settlement) English
From the given name WIGMUND combined with Old English ham "home, settlement". This is the name of a town in Norfolk.
YORK (Settlement & Political Subdivision) English
From Eboracum, the Latinized form of a Brythonic name like Eburacon meaning "yew". It was altered by association with Old English Eoforwic meaning "pig farm". This is the name of a city in northern England. The American city and state of New York were named after the Duke of York (James II of England).
YOXALL (Settlement) English
Derived from Old English geoc "oxen yoke" and halh "nook, recess". This is the name of a town in Staffordshire.
ZAIRE (River & Country) Portuguese, English
Older name of the Congo River, said to be derived via Portuguese from Kikongo nzadi o nzere meaning "river swallowing rivers". This was also the former name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.