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.

Juneau is the capital of Alaska and sits on the mainland of the Alaska Panhandle, wedged between steep mountains and the waters of the Gastineau Channel. Gold prospector Joe Juneau, who founded the settlement with Richard Harris in 1880 after finding gold nearby, gave the city its name. The capital moved to Juneau in 1906 and has remained the seat of state government ever since. Juneau is the only U.S. state capital that cannot be reached by road, so residents and visitors arrive by air or by sea, with the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system and regional flights connecting the city. Glaciers such as the Mendenhall Glacier, along with whale watching and cruise tourism, make the city a key hub for Alaska's visitor industry, while government remains its largest employer. Juneauites often describe a city where wilderness begins at the edge of town.
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Named after Joe Juneau, a gold prospector who co-founded the city in 1880.
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 Juneauites 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