Cities That Have Embarrassingly Awkward Official Names
What’s in a name? While these cities may not be as big or as well-known as New York City or Los Angeles, maybe it’s their names that are holding them back. Some of these towns are just the victims of poor translation choices while others are the funny result of naming a town after a person. At the least, they can count on being side-trip destinations for a quick Instagram photo opportunity.
There are so many cities in the world with unfortunate names, just check out the ones in your home state alone- you’ll be shocked. We can’t imagine trying to apply for a job or sending out invitations with an address in a city like Idiotville, Oregon, but people live in these places, too! You would think that whoever is in charge of naming a new town would put more effort into keeping it more appropriate, but sometimes it just works out in a hilarious way on accident.
If you’ve ever passed through a middle-of-nowhere place only to be surprised by the funny name, you’re not alone. Places like Nimrod, Arkansas exist all over America- all you have to do is stop and read the signs to find them. If you’re ready to laugh your way through some city names that could have been better, keep reading to hear about some of the most awkwardly named cities in the U.S.
Nebraska
Don’t worry; the town isn’t crawling with worms, it was named after Worms, Germany. This place was established as a Lutheran community and is now too small to even have its own post office. It was originally had a large European immigrant population in the 1850s, including people from Poland, Denmark, Norway, and Ireland.
Texas
No, the town was not named for its large population of crazy people. This small Texas city was named after John Looney, who owned a store there in the 1870s. It used to be a cozy place for settlers to come and earn an honest living, but now the population is so small there isn’t even a post office or a school. Now, only a church remains because the building Looney’s store was in caught on fire in recent years.
Arkansas
The German immigrants were probably giving the area a compliment when they named it after Vienna, Austria. Unfortunately, “w” and “v” are different sounds in English. Interestingly enough, the city is known for the Arkansas Rice Festival every October. Clearly, they missed their hot dog calling.
Ohio
Just imagine what the police cars look like for this town. Named after P. P. Creek, the name comes from when an early settler carved the initial P. P. on a tree. While it has its own post office, you’d have a hard time finding things to do in this tiny township.
Tennessee
This isn’t technically a town, it’s another unincorporated community that’s governed by the Chester County. The population is less than 100, and the town has no stop lights, street signs, or post office. There’s even an old two-room schoolhouse that got turned into the Sweet Lips Grocery store.
New York
The town’s name is apparently an American Indian term that means “owl’s hoot,” though it has many other competing definitions. We’d probably change the towns name.
Kentucky
This Kentucky town’s name has a much more tame meaning than you may imagine. A knob is another name for a prominent hill, and a lick is a small transient stream. It makes you wonder why the town ever changed its name from Knob Creek—or Antioch, for that matter.
Arkansas
Toad Suck is an unincorporated community, meaning it’s governed by the larger Faulkner county area instead of by its own local municipal corporation. It’s a tiny town situated on the Arkansas River and holds the popular Toad Suck Daze annual fair. The name comes from prohibition days when people would go to a tavern hidden on the river and “suck on a bottle so much they swell up like a toad.”
Connecticut
This town used to be called Mayamus and Upper Landing but changed in the late ’70s. The town has an elementary school, and that’s about it. It’s so small it doesn’t even have its own zip code. The town was originally started to be a community for families of World War II veterans.
Illinois
Would you be able to tell people what town you lived in with a straight face? With less than 300 residents, it’s no surprise that this place got so run down. Some people in Boody didn’t even have running water until 2007, and the old elementary school went up for sale as a five-bedroom house.
Kansas
This town was named after the indigenous Kickapoo tribe, and the name means “wanderer.” This is another town that’s so small it doesn’t even have a post office. The name might sound funny, but it’s full of a rich history that should be remembered.
West Virginia
This is another example of a town with a name that would look hilarious on police cars. The name comes from the word “Boogie Man,” referring to the dozen murders the small township experienced in 1917. This is one rural area you might want to avoid; it has an intense history of violence that makes it a popular destination for ghost hunters.
Washington
It might sound bad, but the name Humptulips isn’t supposed to seem offensive. The name comes from a Salish word meaning “hard to pole,” referring to the difficult and dangerous terrain on the upriver path.
Oregon
While this is now technically a ghost town, it deserves to be on this list because of where the name came from. The town used to be a logging camp that was so remote; people would say that only an idiot would work there. That saying must have caught on because the camp was torn down and nothing was left behind.
