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.

Cheyenne is the capital and largest city of Wyoming, located in the southeastern corner of the state near the Colorado border. The city is named after the Cheyenne people, a Native American tribe of the Great Plains, and it became the territorial capital in 1869. Cheyenne grew rapidly as a railroad town, and its rail heritage remains part of its identity. The city is best known for Cheyenne Frontier Days, one of the largest outdoor rodeo and western festivals in the world, held every summer. As the seat of state government and a transportation hub, Cheyenne reflects both Wyoming's frontier history and its modern role in the region. Visitors can also explore the Wyoming State Museum and the nearby Laramie Range for hiking and wildlife viewing. The city's historic downtown, with its Victorian-era buildings, reflects the railroad boom.
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Named after the Cheyenne Native American tribe.
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 Cheyennites 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