The Literal Meanings Behind the Names of Every US State and Major City

Language is history, and every name has a fascinating story behind it. And it’s this archaeological approach to names that inspired the latest study by the language lovers at Wordtips.

They analyzed a wide range of credible sources, including the Online Etymology Dictionary and the Encyclopedia Britannica, to uncover the literal meanings behind the names of every US state and major city.

Here’s a look at what they found out.

The meaning behind the name of every state and state capital

The North and South Carolinas are reminders of America’s time as a colony of the British Empire, as both names translate as “The Land of King Charles II.”

And both states’ capitals pay homage to the explorers who went off in search of The New World. North Carolina’s state capital, Raleigh, is named after Sir Walter Raleigh, the English explorer who was key in setting up the first colonial settlement during the 16th century. And South Carolina’s state capital, Columbia, shares its  name with Christopher Columbus.

Literal translations of US cities in the northwest

Sometimes, a simple name says it all. And that’s certainly the case with Hawaii’s biggest city, Honolulu. The name for this popular tourist destination translates as “the calm port.” In other words, the name is as chill as the vibe in Honolulu.

And the literal translation for Portland is about as literal as it gets. According to several reliable etymology sources, Portland simply means “the land surrounding the harbor.”

The meaning behind US city names in the southwest

For millions of disappointed visitors every year, Las Vegas means the “city of bad luck.” However, when translated from its original Spanish, the words Las Vegas actually mean “The Meadows.”

The stunning sunsets across Colorado inspired the naming of one of its major cities. Aurora, which is famous for its epic views and lush natural wonders, has a literal translation of “The Morning Light.”

What do the names of US cities in the Midwest mean?

Bellevue, Nebraska, is another city name with a very literal meaning. Bellevue translates as “Beautiful View.”

Omaha sits alongside the winding Missouri River and was named after the Native Indian Tribes that lived near the riverbanks. Omaha derives its name from the Indian words for “the upstream people.”

Kansas City has a similar etymology. It translates as “The People of the South Wind City.” The People of the South Wind were also known as the Kaw people. They were a Sioux Indian tribe that settled across the central Midwest.

The literal meaning of city names in the US southeast

Wheeling, West Virginia, has one of the most unusual translations: “Place of the Head.”

And the story behind this name is pretty gruesome.

According to legend, the indigenous people weren’t too happy with the arrival of the first foreign settlers in their land. So, as a warning to others, they severed the settler’s head and displayed it on top of a giant pole in the middle of their village.

Translations of names for US cities in the Northeast

New York City was named after James, the Duke of York, who was gifted the territory by his brother, King Charles II, in 1664. It was previously known as New Netherlands.

Philadelphia is often regarded as one of the USA’s “toughest” cities. So it’s a bit of a surprise that Philadelphia actually means “brotherly love.”

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