126 Items Tagged

Names

Why Does America Have So Many Towns With Classical Names?

There are nearly 100 named "Troy."

Frank Jacobs, Big Think May 19, 2023

Burgh Saint Peter, England

The Tower of St Mary's Church

The story behind this uniquely-shaped tower involves ancient empires, local legends, and new words.

Little Rock, Arkansas

The "Little Rock"

Yup, that's where the name came from.

Meet the Man Collecting Fading Place Names

What do we lose when we forget about locations like "Troll's Cave" and "Window Claw"?

Amy Crawford March 10, 2023

Dueling Lane

In addition to escorting prospective couples to and from ballrooms, this lane was also a place for gentlemen to settle scores.

Odiham, England

Birthplace of the British Tommy

According to the Soldiers Account Book, the village of Odiham is home to Thomas Atkins, whose name became shorthand for all British soldiers.

Providence, Rhode Island

Gingerbread and Pancake Islands

The origin of these small islands' sweet names is a local mystery.

Puzzle Monday: What’s in a (Japanese) Name?

Alex Bellos July 4, 2022

What’s Up With Columbia, Maryland’s Quirky Street Names?

From Nodding Night Court to Dove Sail Lane, the town’s address choices are both practical and poetic.

Amy Crawford June 16, 2022

London, England

Leg o' Mutton Reservoir and Park

This unusually-named reservoir found a second life as a nature preserve.

Birmingham, Alabama

Heaviest Corner on Earth

In 1911 this intersection was called "the heaviest corner in the South," and outlandish claim that only grew wilder over the years.

Thredbo, Australia

Mount Kosciuszko Summit

The tallest mountain in mainland Australia.

Dunfermline, Scotland

Dunfermline's Wallace Well

Did the legendary Scottish knight William Wallace actually take refuge here after a major battle?

Birmingham, England

Needless Alley

A small alleyway with an unusual moniker.

Hot Springs, North Carolina

Hot Springs

An idyllic mineral hot springs facility with a more-than checkered past.

Podcast: The Village Where Every Person’s Name Is a Song

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

The Podcast Team December 23, 2021

Flemingsberg, Sweden

Kungens Kurva Shoppingcenter (King's Bend Mall)

An entire shopping mall and industrial terrain named for the time the king of Sweden's car went into a ditch.

Banana, Australia

Banana the Bullock

A fallen bull's legacy lives on in the rural cattle town that is named after him.