Lost meanings

This major US city's name comes from a wild onion plant

Ever wondered why Chicago is called Chicago, when Florida got its name, or what Alaska's name really means? Some of America's most familiar place names have surprisingly old, and sometimes unexpected, stories behind them. From Native American languages to Spanish explorers and even a fictional island, these names offer little glimpses into the people, languages, and cultures that shaped the country. Here are the fascinating stories behind some of America's best-known place names.

Chicago is known for its impressive skyline, deep-dish pizza, blues music, and location along Lake Michigan. But why is it called Chicago?

The name traces back to a Native American word, shikaakwa, referring to wild onions or garlic that once grew abundantly in the area. French explorers recorded the name in the late 1600s in various forms, eventually leading to the spelling we know today. Long before Chicago became one of America's largest cities, the plants growing around its waterways had already given the area its name.

With its enormous wilderness, glaciers, mountains, and wildlife, Alaska hardly needs a grand name to convey its scale. Yet its name does exactly that.

Alaska comes from an Aleut word, often rendered as Alyeska or a related form, commonly interpreted as "the great land" or "the mainland." Long before Alaska became America's largest state in 1959, its Indigenous people had a name that reflected the vast landscape around them. Today, it remains an unusually fitting description of the Last Frontier.

California is home to Silicon Valley, sunny beaches, Hollywood, and some of America's most recognizable landmarks.

In the early 16th century, a popular Spanish novel, Las Sergas de Esplandián, written by the Castilian author Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo**, described a mythical island called California. When Spanish explorers encountered the region in 1542, the name was eventually applied to the land they were exploring**. Perhaps it's fitting that America's home of fiction, Hollywood, is in a state that may have gotten its name from a fictional island.

Think of Texas, and images of cowboys, cattle ranches, barbecue, and the Alamo probably aren't far behind. But the meaning behind the state's name is surprisingly friendly.

Texas comes from the Caddo word tejas, commonly understood to mean "friends" or "allies." In 1689, Spanish explorers encountered Hasinai peoples in East Texas and recorded the word tejas, which they understood to mean 'friends' or 'allies.' The Spanish later adopted Tejas as a name for the region.

Palm trees, beaches, orange groves, and warm weather have become synonymous with Florida. The state's name, though, has its roots in a Spanish Easter tradition.

When Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León arrived in the region in 1513, he called it La Florida, a name associated with Pascua Florida, the Spanish Easter season, meaning "flowery Easter." The name has remained for more than 500 years, even as Florida became known for very different things.

Long before Broadway, Wall Street, and the Empire State Building defined Manhattan, the island was home to the Lenape people. Their language left behind a name that millions of Americans use every day.

The exact meaning of Manhattan is debated, but interpretations have included "hilly island" and "place where wood is gathered." Whatever the precise translation, the name offers a reminder of the island's history long before New York became one of the world's great cities.

Few names are more closely tied to a river than Mississippi. The state shares its name with one of America's most important waterways, a river that has shaped transportation, trade, agriculture, and settlement for centuries.

The word comes from an Indigenous language and is commonly translated as "great river" or "great waters." Considering the Mississippi's enormous size and importance in American history, the name is remarkably fitting.

Today, Milwaukee is often associated with beer, baseball, and its Lake Michigan waterfront. But its name comes from a much older connection to the area's natural landscape.

Milwaukee comes from an Algonquian language and has been interpreted in several ways, including "good," "pleasant," or "gathering place by the water." The exact meaning has been debated, but the reference to water makes sense: the city developed along Lake Michigan and around the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic rivers.

Yosemite is one of the most recognizable names in America's national parks, evoking towering granite cliffs, waterfalls, and giant sequoias. Its name, however, carries a more complicated story.

The name Yosemite is often linked to a term used for the Ahwahneechee people and has traditionally been translated as "those who kill." But that simple translation leaves out an important part of the story: the word was reportedly used by outsiders to refer to the Ahwahneechee rather than being the name those people used for themselves. Today, the famous name remains, even though its origins are more complex than many visitors realize.

Appalachia is more than a mountain range. The name evokes a distinctive American region known for its mountain communities, bluegrass music, traditional crafts, and deep-rooted cultural traditions.

The word Appalachia traces back to the Apalachee, an Indigenous group who lived in what is now the southeastern United States. Spanish explorers encountered the Apalachee in the 16th century, and variations of their name were eventually applied to the Appalachian Mountains and surrounding region. Over time, the name came to describe an entire cultural region stretching across several states.

Let’s revive them!

Once lost, now found: These 12 forgotten words deserve a revival

Image: Nick Fewings

Since language is constantly evolving and changing, over the years, some truly amazing words have vanished from common use, even though they perfectly describe things we still experience today. Why should we settle for dull modern terms when we could revive these gems? Let’s take a trip through time and rediscover some unusual, long-lost words that are just begging to be used again. You might just find a new favorite!

Image: Omar Lopez

Forget "tipsy" or "sloshed." If you’ve ever seen someone having the time of their life after a few too many drinks, they were rouzy-bouzy.

This 17th-century word describes the kind of lively, uninhibited intoxication that leads to off-key karaoke and questionable dance moves. It comes from an old Dutch word for "boozy," making it a natural fit for those who enjoy a drink every other night. Unlike some less flattering terms for drunkenness, rouzy-bouzy sounds almost celebratory!

Image: Cytonn Photography

No, this isn’t someone with equal skill in both hands. An ambodexter is a person who takes bribes from both sides of an argument. First recorded in the 16th century, this word was a favorite in legal and political circles when describing particularly shady characters.

Today, we would call them "double-crossers" or "sellouts," but doesn’t ambodexter have a more dramatic twist?

Image: Nguyễn Phúc

The next time someone lowers their voice and starts whispering like they’re part of some great conspiracy, you can accuse them of engaging in hugger-mugger.

This term, which dates back to the 16th century, originally referred to secrecy and confusion, perfect for any sneaky dealings or hushed gossip sessions. Now, those who do it might be conspiring against something, but the world sounds quite playful!

Image: Apostolos Vamvouras

Have you ever met someone who applies their makeup with a trowel? Congratulations! You’ve witnessed pargeting in action. This word, which originally referred to decorative plasterwork in architecture, was later used to describe the act of overdoing your makeup.

In an age of contouring and airbrushing, perhaps we should bring back parget, right? A little mascara is fine, but when someone spends three hours sculpting their cheekbones, well… they’re definitely pargetting.

Image: Christin Hume

If someone offers you miracle cures that seem too good to be true, they’re a quacksalver. This wonderfully old-fashioned insult referred to fraudulent healers who claimed to have secret remedies for all ailments.

The word itself combines "quack" (as in a fake doctor) with "salve," a reference to their dubious balms and lotions. While modern medicine has come a long way, quacksalvers are still around today, so watch out and start spreading the word!

Image: Redd Francisco

A percher is someone who’s always trying to climb the social or professional ladder, often with a little too much enthusiasm. The term, which dates back to the 16th century, originally referred to birds perching on higher branches, that’s where its association with people reaching for higher status comes from.

We all know a percher: the one who name-drops important people, angles for promotions, or suddenly becomes best friends with whoever’s in charge. While ambition isn’t a bad thing, there’s a fine line between working hard and perching a little too aggressively!

Image: Afif Ramdhasuma

We’ve all experienced being so shocked or overwhelmed that we couldn’t even form a sentence. If you have, you were awhaped.

This medieval word describes that feeling you get when something absolutely astonishing happens. Originally used for moments that were too terrifying, the word has also been used to describe the kind of surprise that happy moments bring. Awhape is the perfect way to sum up that moment of pure, speechless amazement.

Image: Ruslan Valeev

Back in the days of Old English, if the skies darkened or someone’s mood suddenly changed, people would say things had swerked. This moody little word describes that exact moment when things go from bright and cheerful to stormy and brooding. Considering how many people feel a little swerk when Monday rolls around, this word is just begging for a comeback!

Image: Stefano Pollio

Some things are just downright tremblable, that is, so terrifying, they make you shudder. This long-lost word, which means "causing dread or horror," was once used to describe anything spine-chilling or awe-inspiring.

Picture haunted houses, ghost stories, or even your doctor’s bill, truly tremblable things. It’s got a poetic ring to it, much more dramatic than just calling something "scary." And necessary too, the modern world is a tremblable one, right?

Image: Ben White

A rouker is the kind of person who thrives on hushed conversations and spreading juicy tidbits of information. This word, which dates back to at least the 14th century, refers to someone who whispers or murmurs—often with the intent of stirring up trouble.

We all know a rouker or two, whether it’s that one neighbor who always "just happens" to know everyone’s business or the coworker who mysteriously knows about every office romance. And let’s face it, we’ve all been one at some point!