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.

Isfahan is the third-largest city in Iran and a former capital whose beauty has long earned it the nickname Half of the World. It is famous for Persian architecture, especially Naqsh-e Jahan Square, one of the largest city squares in the world, surrounded by mosques, palaces, and bazaars. Visitors can admire stunning mosques with blue-tiled domes, historic palaces, and old stone bridges crossing the Zayandeh River. Isfahan is considered a center of Persian culture and Islamic art, with workshops that continue traditional crafts such as carpet weaving, miniature painting, and metalwork. Its gardens, tree-lined boulevards, and riverside walks make it one of Iran's most charming and visited cities. The city is also famous for its Naqsh-e Jahan Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and historic bridges.
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From Middle Persian 'Spahan'. The demonym is 'Isfahani'.
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.
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Want to explore where Isfahanis live? Here's the atlas that does it best:
Highly detailed, stunning visuals
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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