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.

Jeddah is the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia and the country's principal Red Sea port. It serves as the commercial capital of the kingdom and is widely considered its most cosmopolitan city. For centuries Jeddah has been the gateway to Mecca for pilgrims arriving by sea and air, and its airport welcomes large numbers of travelers each year. The city's Red Sea corniche offers waterfront promenades, sculptures, and seafood restaurants with views across the water. Visitors can explore Al-Balad, the historic district, where coral stone houses with carved wooden balconies recall the city's trading past. Compared with other Saudi cities, Jeddah is often described as having a more relaxed and open atmosphere. Its historic Al-Balad district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features coral stone houses.
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From Arabic, possibly meaning 'grandmother' or 'seashore'. The demonym is 'Jeddawi'.
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 Jeddawis live? Here's the atlas that does it best:
Highly detailed, stunning visuals
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Take a Quiz →Discover demonyms from other places in this region