Buzz
The world is home to a variety of places with names that could make anyone laugh. The UK, for example, features quirky names like Netherthong and Lower Swell! The reasons behind these odd names are often as entertaining as the names themselves, just like the 10 places listed here.
10. Truth or Consequences
Before 1950, this town in southern New Mexico was known as Hot Springs, a fitting name for its famous natural hot springs that attracted many visitors. However, the town wasn’t popular enough, prompting a creative idea to boost tourism.
In the early 1950s, one of the most popular radio shows in the U.S. was Truth or Consequences, so the town decided to adopt its name through a referendum. This sparked a series of events, including a special broadcast from the town on April Fool's Day. The show’s host, Ralph Edwards, continued to visit the town annually until his passing. In addition, the town even made its way into an episode of Doctor Who titled 'The Zygon Invasion.' Perhaps they made the right choice after all.
9. Frog Eye
This list could easily be filled with places from Alabama, which seems to be the reigning champion of bizarre place names. While the origin of Boar Tush remains a mystery (perhaps best left unanswered), we’re focusing on Frog Eye. Located along the Tallapoosa River, there are several theories behind this unusual name. It may sound like a name dreamed up by a drunken crowd, but local historian Michelle Fortson believes the story dates back to the prohibition era.
According to the tale, the local saloon sold alcohol secretly during prohibition and needed a way to avoid detection by state police. To communicate with customers, the saloon owner placed a ceramic frog statue in the window. If both eyes of the frog were open, it was safe to order alcohol. If one eye was closed, it meant the police were inside, and customers should stick to soft drinks.
8. Tightwad
The name of this town in Missouri might seem unfortunate at first, but there's a good reason behind it, and it has nothing to do with wedgies. The story goes that in the early 1900s, a watermelon farmer lived in this area. One day, the mailman asked the farmer if he could save a watermelon for him to pick up after finishing his deliveries. According to local legend, the farmer agreed but later sold the watermelon to another customer who offered 50 cents more than the mailman had.
Annoyed by being cheated out of his watermelon, the mailman called the farmer a 'tightwad,' a nickname that stuck. Before that, the town – which is home to just 69 people – was known as Edgewood. Now, the town proudly embraces the name, especially considering it could have just as easily been called You Owe Me A Watermelon, Missouri.
7. Doubtful Sound
Doubtful Sound, located in southwestern New Zealand, is a fjord that reaches 421 meters deep, making it the deepest fjord on the South Island. The name was given by British naval explorer Captain James Cook after his first sighting of the fjord in 1770. Viewing the inlet through fog from his ship, Cook was uncertain whether it was safe to navigate, fearing the space was too narrow for his vessel. As a result, he named it Doubtful Harbor.
The reason behind the name change from Doubtful Harbor to Doubtful Sound remains unclear, but it is believed that whalers, who visited decades after Cook, made the revision. Perhaps they were trying to convince themselves they couldn’t hear the cries of the whales they were hunting. Despite the name, Doubtful Sound is renowned for its breathtaking beauty and is a popular tourist destination today.
6. Saint-Louis-du Ha! Ha!
This might sound like the title of a French sitcom full of slapstick humor, but it’s actually a town in Quebec, Canada. Located near the US border, its name feels like it belongs to an entirely different realm. The ‘Louis’ part is believed to honor one of the town's founders, but the 'Ha Ha' part has a more intriguing origin. The term ‘ha-ha’ comes from an old French word meaning a barrier or a wall, referring to a lake just outside the town. Lake Temiscouata marks the end of the town’s limits, and so the ‘ha ha’ likely refers to that.
No one knows for sure why two exclamation marks were added to the name, but perhaps someone thought it sounded too plain without them! On the bright side, it gives the 1,300 residents the unique distinction of living in the only town in the world with two exclamation marks in its name.
5. Deception Island
It might sound like the title of a B-movie thriller, but Deception Island is a real place. Situated in the South Shetland Islands in Antarctica, the island got its name from a very perplexed visitor. In 1820, US hunter Nathaniel Palmer and his crew came across it during a seal-hunting expedition. At first, they assumed it was a typical island and decided to approach, unaware of the island’s true nature. The entrance to the island is a narrow inlet known as Neptune's Bellows, and it’s only once they passed through that it became clear they were actually on the edge of a massive volcano.
Although the volcano had already collapsed by the time Palmer and his crew arrived, the shock of the unexpected discovery led Palmer to name the island after its deceptive appearance. The volcano may have imploded, but it remains technically active to this day.
4. Intercourse
The town of Intercourse is located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, but don't get too excited based on the name, as it's situated in Amish country. The charming village wasn't always called by its current eyebrow-raising name. Originally, it was known as Cross Keys when it was founded in 1754. What is clear is that the name change occurred in 1814, although the reasons for the shift vary.
One popular theory behind the name is that it simply referred to the intersection of two major roads in the village. A more intriguing possibility is that there was once a racetrack in the area with an entrance called Entercourse, which gradually evolved into Intercourse. Another theory is that the word ‘intercourse’ once referred to the social interaction and camaraderie that was common in rural villages. Of course, there’s a fourth explanation, but we’ll leave that up to your imagination.
3. Slaughter Beach
For a seaside town hoping to draw in laid-back sunbathers, having a name that sounds like a low-budget slasher flick about a holiday resort stalked by a chainsaw-wielding maniac doesn’t seem like a great marketing strategy. Slaughter Beach, located in Delaware, was established in 1681, and there are various theories about the origin of its unsettling name.
One theory suggests that an attack by Native Americans on a group of settlers led these settlers to ask the tribal chief to meet with their ‘god’ on the beach for peace talks. This 'god' was actually a cannon used to kill the Native Americans. A second, darker explanation is that the name refers to the horseshoe crabs that came ashore to spawn. These crabs would often be flipped onto their backs by waves, unable to return to the sea, and would end up dying under the sun. A third theory is that the name comes from a nearby area called Slaughter Neck. This theory makes a bit more sense and is less grim, but it still raises the question: how did Slaughter Neck get its name?
2. Glen Campbell
Who wouldn't want to name their town after the Rhinestone Cowboy? Well, the 306 residents of Glen Campbell, Pennsylvania, apparently wouldn't. Despite sharing a name with the iconic singer of 'Wichita Lineman,' the town's origin has nothing to do with the country star. The name actually dates back to 1889 and was a tribute to Cornelius Campbell. Now, you might wonder why they didn’t just name it Cornelius Campbell. Well, for one, 'Cornelius Campbell' doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue as a town name.
On top of that, Campbell was the superintendent at the most important company in the area at the time—the Glenwood Coal Company. Many local men worked for the company, which took its name from ‘glen,’ the Scottish word for valley. So, the town name, Glen Campbell, was a blend of the company’s name and the man who ran it. This didn’t stop country singer Glen Campbell from paying a visit in 1971. Maybe the townspeople were too polite to break it to him.
1. Wet Jacket Arm
Certain places in the world are known for their peculiar names, and the Fiordland region in New Zealand is certainly one of them. While we've already looked at Doubtful Sound, which feels quite tame in comparison, Wet Jacket Arm is a much more unusual name. This inlet owes its moniker to none other than Captain Cook, who, along with his crew, visited the region during a New Zealand expedition in 1773. Unfortunately, they had poor timing when it came to weather, as they were caught in relentless rainstorms throughout their stay. Their drenched uniforms and a mix of frustration and a lack of creative thinking led them to give the area the uninspired name Wet Jacket Arm.
Though the name doesn’t do justice to the stunning beauty of an area now protected as a National Park, we might be thankful they were only bothered by their wet jackets. After all, who would want to visit a place named Damp Underwear or Soggy Socks?
