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.

Olympia is the capital of Washington and sits at the southern tip of Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest. The city is named after the Olympic Mountains, which were themselves named after Mount Olympus in Greece, and it became the territorial capital in 1853. Olympia is known for its artesian water, which flows from underground aquifers, and for a thriving microbrewing scene. The city is home to The Evergreen State College and the offices of Washington state government, which give it a strong public-service character. Its waterfront, forests, and views of the Olympic Mountains make Olympia a scenic gateway to the surrounding region. The state Capitol campus, set on a lawn above Capitol Lake, is a pleasant place for a walk. Nearby Olympic National Park, reached by a scenic drive, offers rainforests, glaciers, and rugged coastline.
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Named after the Olympic Mountains, which were named after Mount Olympus in Greece.
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.
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Highly detailed, stunning visuals
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Challenge yourself with our demonym quizzes and see how many you can get right!
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Take a Quiz →Discover demonyms from other places in this region