15 Places That Don't Mean What You Think: Explained
Discover 15 places that don't mean what you think—from Paris, Texas to Greenland—and the surprising stories behind their misleading names.

Boston is the capital of Massachusetts and the largest city in New England, sitting on a peninsula along Massachusetts Bay. It was named after Boston, Lincolnshire, England, the hometown of several Puritan colonists, and it has served as the seat of the colony and state government since 1630. Boston is widely regarded as the cradle of the American Revolution, the site of events such as the Boston Tea Party and the battles that began the war. Today it is a major center for education, medicine, and technology, anchored by institutions including Harvard University and MIT in nearby Cambridge. The Freedom Trail, a path of historic sites through the city, lets visitors follow the story of American independence on foot. The city's neighborhoods, from the North End to Beacon Hill, reflect centuries of immigration and change.
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Named after Boston, Lincolnshire, England, the hometown of several Puritan colonists.
Other places in the region and their demonyms
Discover 15 places that don't mean what you think—from Paris, Texas to Greenland—and the surprising stories behind their misleading names.
From Montenegro to Naples, these 20 place names that were literally translated show how languages rebuild geography — and what the originals mean.
Want to explore where Bostonians live? Here's the atlas that does it best:
Highly detailed, stunning visuals
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Challenge yourself with our demonym quizzes and see how many you can get right!
Take a Quiz →Challenge yourself with our demonym quizzes and see how many you can get right!
Take a Quiz →Discover demonyms from other places in this region