From the earliest settlers of the original 13 colonies to the pioneers who expanded west and south across America, one major challenge always came with building new communities: choosing a name for the settlement.

Many towns and cities in the United States were named after founders, nearby natural landmarks, or places the settlers had come from. However, some were given unusual or unexpected names.

Over time, many of these places were renamed—sometimes more than once. The stories behind these name changes reveal how early American cities originally got their titles and the reasons those names were later replaced.

This collection highlights various US cities that changed names, based on votes and rankings from over 1,000 participants. The list is dynamically ordered by public voting results rather than editorial or paid influence.

1. Hot Springs → Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

The radio and TV game show Truth or Consequences celebrated its anniversary by asking a town to adopt its name. Hot Springs, New Mexico, agreed after a public vote in 1950, seeking to stand out from other towns with similar names. The change gained national attention when the show broadcast from the newly renamed town on April 1st.

2. Swilling’s Mill → Phoenix, Arizona

The settlement went through several early names such as Helling Mill and Mill City before becoming Phoenix. The final name was chosen to symbolize a new city rising from the remains of earlier Indigenous civilizations in the area.

3. Losantiville → Cincinnati, Ohio

Originally called Losantiville, a name combining Greek, Latin, and French roots, the settlement was renamed Cincinnati. It was either inspired by a governor’s dislike of the original name or named after the Society of Cincinnati, which honored a Roman historical figure symbolizing civic duty.

4. Canebreak → Marthasville → Atlanta, Georgia

The area was first called Canebreak, then Terminus due to its railroad location, and later Marthasville. It was eventually renamed Atlanta, reflecting both a connection to rail development and honoring local influences.

5. Bronson → Kalamazoo, Michigan

Named after settler Titus Bronson, the town was later renamed due to disagreements with his beliefs. The new name, Kalamazoo, is believed to come from Indigenous language origins, with interpretations relating to boiling water or flowing rivers.

6. Yerba Buena → San Francisco, California

Originally named after a local plant under Spanish and Mexican rule, Yerba Buena was renamed San Francisco in 1847 to reduce confusion and align the city with official maps and regional identity.

7. Jernigan → Orlando, Florida

The early settlement of Jernigan was renamed Orlando in the mid-1800s. The origin of the new name is uncertain, with theories ranging from literary inspiration to honoring individuals or soldiers connected to the area.

8. St. Jean du Vermilionville → Vermilionville → Lafayette, Louisiana

Initially a French-named settlement, it was later renamed Lafayette in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, a hero of both the American and French Revolutions.

9. Providence → Anne Arundel Towne → Annapolis, Maryland

This settlement went through multiple name changes before becoming Annapolis, eventually named after Princess Anne, who later became Queen of England.

10. Imnizaskadan → Pig’s Eye → Saint Paul, Minnesota

The area originally had an Indigenous name before briefly being called Pig’s Eye after an early settler. It was later renamed Saint Paul after a Catholic chapel established in the region.

11. North Tarrytown → Sleepy Hollow, New York

In an effort to attract tourism and honor Washington Irving’s famous story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, residents voted to change the village’s name in the 1990s.

12. Big Lick → Roanoke, Virginia

Originally named after local salt licks, Big Lick was later renamed Roanoke, reflecting regional Indigenous terminology and aligning with its growing importance as a transportation hub.

13. Penacook → Rumford → Concord, New Hampshire

The settlement changed names multiple times during colonial disputes and reorganizations, eventually becoming Concord, a name chosen to represent harmony and agreement among settlers.

14. Fort Duquesne → Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

After changing hands between French and British control, the settlement was renamed in honor of British statesman William Pitt, later evolving into the modern spelling Pittsburgh.

15. Fort Pontchartrain du Detroit → Detroit, Michigan

Founded as a French fort, the settlement’s name gradually shortened over time from a long French title to simply Detroit, reflecting its location along a strait.

16. Shawmut → Boston, Massachusetts

Originally called Shawmut by Indigenous people, the settlement was renamed Boston by English settlers in honor of their hometown in England.

17. Boiling Springs Township → East Rutherford, New Jersey

The township was briefly named after a local spring before being renamed East Rutherford following administrative changes in the late 1800s.

18. Juliet → Joliet, Illinois

Originally named Juliet after a founder’s daughter, the town was later renamed Joliet to honor French explorer Louis Jolliet.

19. Skinner’s Butte → Eugene City → Eugene, Oregon

Named after early settler Eugene Skinner, the settlement evolved from Skinner’s Butte to Eugene City, and eventually was shortened to Eugene.

20. La Villa de San Francisco Javier de Alburquerque → Albuquerque, New Mexico

The city’s name evolved from a long Spanish colonial title honoring nobility and royalty, eventually becoming the simplified modern name Albuquerque.