Have you ever seen street signs that make you wonder why they were named the way they are? Well, what if we go one step further and think about city names?
I’m sure there’s a story behind every name, and sometimes they only appear silly because of its similarity to English words. Still, it doesn’t hurt to have a good laugh when you discover one.
I randomly came across an article online that lists 17 of the strangest place names in the world, and here I share the top 5:
- Hell, Norway: If you’re wondering what hell is like, visit the town in Norway. Now, for English-speaking visitors, it seems strange to call a small town ‘Hell,’ but it actually got its name from the Norse word “hellir,” meaning “overhang.”
- Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Wales: I have no idea how to pronounce this word, but this Welsh town’s name is a tongue-twister that’s 58 letters long. In Welsh, it refers to the town’s exact location, which translates to “Saint Mary’s Church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio of the red cave.” I’m not sure, but do we really need to be THAT specific?
- Middlefart, Denmark: I’m sorry for being a little childish here, but really, “fart”? Obviously, this will bring about some giggles, but the actual story behind the town name is that it stems from the old Danish words “maethal” (meaning middle) and “far” (meaning way).
- Pee Pee Township, USA: it’s a small spot in central Ohio that took its name from a nearby Pee Pee Creek that goes back to an early settler who carved the initials P.P. into a tree on its bank.
- Silly, Belgium: this town takes its name from a nearby river called “Sille,” but it’s strange to tell people I live in ‘Silly.’ Would people even think you’re serious?
Do you know of a place or street name with a strange name? I always find it strange when you find your own name on a street sign. I’ve actually did a search before because I always wanted to find one nearby (and surprisingly there is one not too far from where I live).
Have some fun by looking into the names of places, and share a good laugh while searching.