We recently read an article about the history of chess and how the pieces got their names. Chess originated in India in the 7th century AD as “chaturanga” and had four main pieces: the king, the chariot, the elephant, and the foot soldier. As the game spread to other parts of the world, the pieces took on new names and forms.
In Persia, the chariot become the rook, derived from the Persian word “rukh” meaning chariot. The elephant was transformed into the bishop. In Europe, the foot soldier evolved into the pawn, a term derived from the French word “pion” which means foot soldier.
Anyway, this rather dry article got us to thinking about the origins of some words. Which got us to thinking about how some cities and towns got their names. Which brings us to today’s blog post – What’s in a Name? Whether named after a local landmark, a famous person, or just a bizarre accident, we thought you might enjoy learning a bit about some of the strangest, most ridiculously named places we’ve found around the world.
And, just so you don’t think we’re making any of these up, we’re including links so that you can make your own travel plans to visit each.
Nameless, Tennessee, USA:
This seemed like a good place to start. Apparently when the residents decided to apply for a post office, the place of the name was inadvertently left blank. So, the U.S. Post Office Department returned the approved application with the name of Nameless. https://goo.gl/maps/aH359R6CLeTziGnZ9
Boring, Oregon, USA:
Named after William H. Boring, a Union soldier who settled in the area after the American Civil War. We love the fact that the town has a sister-city partner with the Scottish town of Dull. https://goo.gl/maps/RUdMoZn3MmBUXqtW6
Imalone, Wisconsin, USA:
Whether you’re at a party or an arena sporting event, if you live in this place, you will always say “Imalone in Wisconsin”. https://goo.gl/maps/A84ZeUcCETxTkvxJ9
Intercourse, Pennsylvania, USA:
Situated in the unlikely location of the heart of Pennsylvania’s Amish country, this town was the setting for the Harrison Ford movie Witness. Travelers be warned, however, as Intercourse is less than ten miles away from Blue Balls, Pennsylvania. So, if you set your GPS wrongly, you could be in for a very disappointing weekend getaway. https://goo.gl/maps/wSNC3swxwdwhQWDu9
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwlllantysiliogogogoch, Wales:
This small village in Wales, whose name translates to (we kid you not) “St Mary’s Church in the hollow of the white hazel near the rapid whirlpool of Llandysilio of the red cave”, has nearly more letters in its name than residents. Instead of providing a map, we thought you’d enjoy more hearing how it’s actually pronounced.
Middelfart, Denmark:
This unfortunately named city seemed a good way to enter into the more juvenile portion of our listing (reader beware). Middlefart was a whaling hub up until the end of the 19th century. Middlefarters take pride in being home to the Nordic region’s largest museum of ceramics, the CLAY. https://goo.gl/maps/kdS57dSerXQGRiJe6
Titty Hill, England:
This enticingly named hamlet is located in the West Sussex area of England. It’s a great place to base yourself for day trips to nearby Wetwang and Shitterton. (seriously, we can’t make this stuff up!). https://goo.gl/maps/tzr8Dd4YTob7dSka7
Muff, Ireland:
A village in County Donegal, Ireland near the mouth of the River Foyle, where you can become a member of the Muff Diving Club. You can also attend the Bilingual Historical Walk and brush up on your best Gaelic pick-up lines to try out on the Muff Queen during the – wait for it – annual Muff Festival in August. https://goo.gl/maps/8ovmF1eV3znzMnB29
Shagnasty Island, South Orkney Islands:
While we’re pretty sure there’s a porno named after this island, it actually got its name from the unpleasant state of the island due to a large colony of blue-eyed shags that call the island home. https://goo.gl/maps/pBL4i2cNeDSSccEn7
Whiskey Dick Mountain, Washington, USA:
Nuff said about that. https://goo.gl/maps/pqe3fZakWMU59hhg8
Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania, USA:
A rural area just outside of Punxsutawney, home of the famous weather-predicting groundhog Phil (see our blog post from Feb 2nd, 2023) this tantalizingly named place supposedly got its name because it was once home to large groups of turkeys. https://goo.gl/maps/j1sWgeAhX4Q4qNyHA
Dildo, Newfoundland, Canada:
Located just 2 km south of Spread Eagle Bay, this town got its name from the “phallus-shaped wooden pin stuck in the edging of a row boat to act as a pivot for the oar.” Mmmmhmmm, sure Canadians, whatever you say. In a serendipitous coincidence, just last week, this phallus shaped ice berg floated past the town of Dildo (Google it if you don't believe us!)
Nicknamed the “dickie berg” by local residents, it sadly lacked staying power and collapsed the day after the money shot was taken (sorry, just couldn’t resist).
In addition to the map link https://goo.gl/maps/ZfSysMiMyKqNRvmFA here’s the TripAdvisor link as well. Worth a click just for the heading! https://shorturl.at/moyR3
Useless Inlet, Australia:
The French explorers Nicolas Thomas Baudin and Louis Claude de Saulces de Freycinet, were clearly pissed off at the sand bank that blocked them from mooring their ship when naming this speck of land. https://goo.gl/maps/XTaxQPwD8sLqNdEV9
Toad Suck, Arkansas, USA:
Toad Suck sits along the banks of the Arkansas River. Legend has it that, during the era of the steamboat, its tavern was a frequent stop for boatmen who were said to “suck on the bottle until they swelled up like toads.” The name stuck, and Toad Suck, Arkansas was born. https://goo.gl/maps/qd85AfujqmBFB9GP7
Disappointment Islands, French Polynesia:
This small group of sparsely populated coral islands include the island of Tepoto and the atoll of Napuka. In 1520, Ferdinand Magellan first called them the “Unfortunate Islands” because his sailors couldn’t find any drinkable water. In 1765, British explorer John Byron named them “Disappointment Islands” because he found the natives hostile. https://goo.gl/maps/tMWNoVtJUPcqtUQJ9
Fucking, Austria:
After nearly 1,000 years, the residents of Fucking, Austria voted in 2021 to change the name to Fugging. Apparently the locals had grown frustrated by thefts of the town signs by tourists. No news has yet emerged about possible name changes to the nearby hamlets of Oberfucking and Unterfucking. We would hate to have headed up the tourism bureau here prior to the name change! https://goo.gl/maps/qPDkCm3DHVsMa97A6
Hell, Michigan, USA:
Name-wise, this seemed like an ideal placement following the previous town on the list. We just love Wikipedia’s description of the place, “As an unincorporated community in Livingston County, Michigan, Hell has no defined boundaries or population statistics of its own.” True on many levels we guess. And, judging from the photo, apparently it really can freeze over. https://goo.gl/maps/wQC371bou9Xf5GNh9
Nowhere Else, Tasmania, Australia:
A rural community of about 40 people, Nowhere Else supposedly got its name when a group of surveyors, in the early 19th century, were mapping the region. When they got to this particular area, they found it difficult to pinpoint their exact location. One of them is said to have remarked that they were “nowhere else but Nowhere Else”. And the name stuck. https://goo.gl/maps/WSYgWfWokb2sWD5Y6
Bumpass, Virginia, USA:
Named after Jack Bumpass, the scion of the Bumpass family, this northeast corner of Virginia has become an oddity-traveler’s mecca. AND the first American President, George Washington, slept here in 1791! https://goo.gl/maps/ZaTznFgmsqip1ErNA
Zzyzx, California, USA:
This unincorporated community, formerly known as Soda Springs, is a flyspeck of a town in the Mojave Desert on the road from “Vegas to nowhere” (shout out to one of our favorite Indie movies “Baghdad Café”). https://goo.gl/maps/qCW8n5wicekrrjST8
This concludes our quick trip around the world. While some town and city names may seem completely absurd, they often have fascinating backstories and/or historical significance. From puns and inside jokes to references to local landmarks and cultural traditions, each name reflects the unique character and identity of the community it’s come to represent.
Whether you’re a traveler looking to explore offbeat destinations or simply curious about the quirks and oddities of the world around you, why not take a road trip and discover what hidden gems like Intercourse, Pennsylvania or Dildo, Newfoundland or Boring, Oregon have to offer? You never know what you might learn!
Have you been to any of these places? Or to someplace that should have been included on this list? Tell us about it in the comments or post some pics in our Forums section.
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