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Why does every town have a Maple Street? The 11 most-used street names

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Have you ever wondered why so many streets in the U.S. are named "Main," "Maple," or "Broadway"? From historical references to nature-inspired names and beyond, every street name has a reason behind it. Take a look at the following 11 common street names. How many of these names are present in your neighborhood?

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A self-explanatory name, for sure, "Main Street" is usually the most important avenue of a town or city, in its early stages. Sometimes, as it can happen, the city will grow and the "Main" street will no longer be the most important one, but the name almost always remains.

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A testament to the U.S.’s most abundant tree, "Maple Street" is a common name found in towns and cities across the country. It has also appeared frequently in fictional settings, from novels and films to cartoons like The Simpsons.

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Strangely enough, the name "Second Street" is more common than "First Street." One might assume that for every Second Street in America, there must also be a First Street—but that’s not always the case. The explanation lies in the fact that many "First Streets" have been renamed since their original naming.

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Another common street name honoring one of America’s most widespread trees, "Oak Street," is a name that can be found in towns and cities of all sizes across the nation.

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Another self-explanatory name is the following example. The streets and avenues named "Park Street" in America usually start, end, or border a public park.

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A name somewhat similar in use to "Main Street" is "High Street." Though much less common in the US, it is often found in older towns with colonial or British influence and is typically bestowed upon the most important street in a town or city.

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Akin to "Main" and "High," "Central Street" is a name given to streets and avenues that are situated in the downtown area of a town or city, and pass through some of its most important features, like government buildings or central squares.

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Many street names originate as landmark references, pointing to notable features along the road. Nearly every town in America has a "Church Street," most of them named after a church that once stood—or still stands—along their path.

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Across the country, streets named "Market Street" often serve as the center of commercial activity in a town or city. Like other landmark-based street names, the designation reflects the street’s primary use—in this case, as a commercial thoroughfare.

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Unsurprisingly, "Washington Street," the Father of the Nation’s name, appears in nearly every American town and city, and in a larger proportion than any other historical figure’s name.

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The third and final tree-based street name in this list, "Elm Street," comes from a common North American tree. Like Maple and Oak, Elm Street has appeared in numerous fictional stories, television shows, novels, and movies, most notably, A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Famous monikers

Discover the legendary nicknames of these 10 famous people!

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While there’s not a lot of mystery as to why someone named Phillip may be known as Phil, the same cannot be said for a number of downright weird nicknames. Outlandish or extravagant nicknames can be great conversation starters, and they can often be a better description of someone’s nature than their given name. In that regard, the 10 individuals in this article received truly unique and incredible nicknames that helped them cement their legacy. So, without further ado, here’s our pick of 10 of the best nicknames in history!

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Who says that a nickname needs to be complicated? In fact, an argument could be made that the simpler the nickname, the better it communicates its point across. Case in point: Muhammad Ali will forever be remembered as "the Greatest", regardless of the highly unlikely case of a better boxer coming along in the future. This nickname truly describes Ali to perfection, and it is a great homage to this amazing athlete’s legacy.

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William Frederick Cody was definitely a jack of all trades: Not only did he serve his country during the American Civil War (earning a Medal of Honor in 1872), but he was also an excellent hunter and showman. In that sense, can you think of a flashier and more extravagant nickname for a showman than Buffalo Bill? According to historians, Cody received this nickname after the Civil War, thanks to his hunting prowess.

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President Abraham Lincoln was surely the recipient of very high-praising nicknames, including the famous "Honest Abe" moniker, but perhaps the one that speaks to his legacy the most is the one he received after the American Civil War, when he became known as "The Great Emancipator". This nickname naturally comes from the fact that our 16th President issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.

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The world of rock and roll is filled with many famous and flashy nicknames: For instance, Chuck Berry is known as "The Father of Rock' N’ Roll", while Billy Joel is known as "The Piano Man". However, every music fan knows that there is and will ever be only one King of Rock' N’ Roll, and that title goes to Elvis Presley. This nickname is truly synonymous with Elvis, to the point that most music lovers instantly think about Presley whenever they hear the phrase "the King."

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This is one of the oldest nicknames in this list, which is ironic since readers began calling William Shakespeare "The Bard" almost 200 years after his death. Often considered England’s national poet, Shakespeare became known as "The Bard" or "the Bard of Avon" sometime in the 1800s, at the time when his popularity started spreading across the world, cementing him as one of the greatest authors in history.

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There’s definitely no one more deserving of the title "Father of His Country" than George Washington: His contributions to the independence and consolidation of the United States are literally too many to count. While you would think that this title was given to Washington posthumously, this nickname first appeared in print in 1778, with this publication immortalizing an already extremely popular nickname.

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For many, Arnold Scharzenegger is the ultimate action movie star: From "Conan the Barbarian" to "Commando", Arnold has given life to many iconic and adrenaline-filled movies. However, there’s one movie that has given us what’s probably Arnold’s most memorable role, and that’s his incredible performance as the Terminator, a ruthless and fearsome robot sent back to the past. In fact, when Schwarzenegger became the 38th governor of California in 2003, he quickly became known by the nickname "The Governator".

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The concept of "Blonde Bombshell" is almost as old as cinema itself: It’s a trope that involves a blonde "femme-fatale", who effortlessly steals the heart of both characters and audience. While this concept predates iconic American actress Marilyn Monroe, the truth is that no other actress in history has ever embodied this concept better than Monroe. In that sense, it seems only logical that Marilyn became known as "The Blonde Bombshell".

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As we mentioned before, the world of rock and roll has produced some rather colorful and unique nicknames. However, few are as unique as the one Jim Morrison, the legendary singer of the rock band "The Doors", gave himself. Morrison displayed a fascination with lizards from an early age and, in a 1970s poem titled "Celebration of the Lizard", he wrote "I am the Lizard King". Thus, Morrison is still known by fans for his "Lizard King" title.

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British Prime Minister Winston Churchill became known as "the British Bulldog". You would think that this is not a particularly flattering nickname, but it is a testament to Churchill’s tenacity and gruff demeanor. Interestingly, Churchill did have a fondness for dogs, but not exactly for bulldogs, since he was the proud owner of a Poodle called "Rufus":