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.

Shiraz is a city of poets, literature, and gardens in southern Iran, celebrated for its refined culture for centuries. It is the birthplace of the famous poets Hafez and Saadi, whose works remain central to Persian literature and are still recited and admired today. Shiraz serves as a gateway to the ancient ruins of Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, located a short drive away. The city is known for its beautiful gardens, including the classic Persian Eram Garden, and for its tradition of wine, poetry, and music. Historically a center of Persian arts and learning, Shiraz offers visitors a rich blend of ancient heritage, scholarly tradition, and fragrant gardens. Its Vakil Bazaar and Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, known for its colorful stained glass, add to the city's charm.
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Ancient name, possibly from Elamite. The demonym is 'Shirazi'.
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 Shirazis 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