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.

Lagos is the largest city in Nigeria and one of the largest urban areas in Africa, located on the Atlantic coast in the southwestern part of the country. It served as Nigeria's capital until 1991, when government moved to Abuja, but it remains the country's major commercial hub. Lagos Port and Murtala Muhammed International Airport anchor the city's trade and travel links. The city is known for its vibrant music, film, and fashion industries, and it is the center of Nigeria's Nollywood film industry. Built across islands and mainland areas connected by bridges and lagoons, Lagos has a dynamic geography that shapes daily life. Its markets, nightlife, and creative energy make it one of the most influential cities on the continent.
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The name comes from the Portuguese 'Lagos', meaning 'lakes' or 'lagoons', given by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century, who were struck by the lagoon system along the coast. The city's Yoruba name is 'Èkó'.
Other places in the region and their demonyms
Ibadan
130 km northeast
People are called:
Ibadan
450 km west
People are called:
Accran
120 km west
People are called:
Cotonese
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 Lagosians 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