Place names considered unusual

Unusual place names refers to place names which are interesting or unusual. There are many placenames throughout the world which have names seen as funny or unusual in English.

Types of placenames often seen as unusual include names suggesting matters sexual or scatological or insulting, usually unintentionally. Others which have unorthodox spelling or sound, or those which are extremely short such as one-letter names, or extremely long are singled out for being unusual. Others are those that describe something that is in no apparent sense as to a geographical location. Other unusual names include calendar-related names, numerical names, interrogative pronoun names, names of living organisms, names relating to food or drink and names of places that match or resemble the name of another much better known place, giving opportunity for confusion. Other names which are seen as offensive may also be seen as unusual.

Many place names that appear odd to English-speakers are from other languages. Often they are either meaningless or innocuous in their own tongue. The arguably best-known examples of this are the town of Condom, France, and the village of Fucking, Austria.

Because of problems associated with an unusual place name, some towns and cities have chosen to rename themselves.

Some parts of the world have been seen as places which are famous for a large amount of unusual names such as Dorset ^[1], Arkansas ^[2], Alberta ^[3], Ireland ^[4], Canada ^[5], Texas ^[6], Antarctica ^[7], Newfoundland ^[8]and Pennsylvania ^[9].

List of unusual place names

While the nature of an "unusual" name is subjective, there are some placenames which there is a consensus that are "unusual" and which are famous for their unusual name.

1770, Queensland ^[10]

Dildo, Newfoundland and Labrador ^[11]

Fucking, Austria ^[12]

Hell, Michigan ^[13] ^[14]

Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, Massachusetts ^[15] ^[16] ^[17]

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Anglesey, Wales ^[18] ^[19] ^[20]

Zzyzx, California ^[21] ^[22] ^[23]

References

^ [1]
^ [2]
^ [3]
^ [4]
^ [5]
^ [6]
^ [7]
^ [8]
^ [9]
^ "BUG - Backpackers Guide to Childers, Bundaberg and Town of 1770, Queensland, Australia". Destinations Guide. www.bugaustralia.com The backpackers’ ultimate guide. 2006-02-14. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |publishyear= (help)
^ Screech and Tell, The New York Times, September 25, 2005
^ The Register, Brits steal carloads of F**king Austrian roadsigns, 15 August 2005
^ Hell, Michigan USA 48169
^ roadsideamerica.com, Hell, Michigan
^ The New York Times, What's the Name of That Lake? It's Hard to Say Nov. 20, 2004
^ [10]
^ Even locals can't agree on spelling of Lake Chargoggagoggmanch ... Nov 21, 2004, Times Argus
^ BBC, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Anglesey, Wales, 2000
^ [11]
^ [12]
^ [13]
^ [14]
^ [15]

External links

[1] [1]

[2] [2]

[3] [3]

[4] [4]

[5] [5]

[6] [6]

[7] [7]

[8] [8]

[9] [9]

[10] "BUG - Backpackers Guide to Childers, Bundaberg and Town of 1770, Queensland, Australia". Destinations Guide. www.bugaustralia.com The backpackers’ ultimate guide. 2006-02-14. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |publishyear= (help)

[11] Screech and Tell, The New York Times, September 25, 2005

[12] The Register, Brits steal carloads of F**king Austrian roadsigns, 15 August 2005

[13] Hell, Michigan USA 48169

[14] roadsideamerica.com, Hell, Michigan

[15] The New York Times, What's the Name of That Lake? It's Hard to Say Nov. 20, 2004

[16] [10]

[17] Even locals can't agree on spelling of Lake Chargoggagoggmanch ... Nov 21, 2004, Times Argus

[18] BBC, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Anglesey, Wales, 2000

[19] [11]

[20] [12]

[21] [13]

[22] [14]

[23] [15]

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List of unusual place names

References

See also

External links