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.

Frankfort is the capital of Kentucky and sits in a narrow valley along the Kentucky River, one of the smallest state capitals in the country. The city takes its name from a ford in the river where a settler, Stephen Frank, was killed, which led to the name 'Frank's Ford'. Frankfort became the capital in 1792, the year Kentucky joined the Union, and the Kentucky State Capitol dominates the city's skyline. The area is closely tied to the state's bourbon heritage, and several distilleries operate in and around the city. Government is the main employer, and the town's compact historic district, set against the river and limestone bluffs, gives it a close-knit, small-town feel. Visitors can tour the Kentucky State Capitol and the Kentucky History Center to learn about the state's past. The surrounding Bluegrass region is famous for its horse farms.
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Named after a ford in the Kentucky River where Stephen Frank was killed, becoming known as 'Frank's Ford'.
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 Frankfortians 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