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.

Richmond is the capital of Virginia and sits at the fall line of the James River in the eastern part of the state. The city is named after Richmond upon Thames in England, and it became the capital in 1780. During the Civil War, Richmond served as the capital of the Confederate States of America, and many historic sites from that period remain part of the city's landscape. Today Richmond is a major center for government, finance, and education, and its Virginia State Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson, is one of the most important public buildings in the nation. The city's museums, historic neighborhoods, and riverfront give it a rich cultural life. The Hollywood Cemetery, the final resting place of two U.S. presidents, is one of the city's best-known historic sites.
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Named after Richmond upon Thames in England.
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 Richmonders 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