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These destinations aren’t just about their quirky weird names; they each have unique stories. Here are some places with unexpectedly weird names that might make you do a double-take. From Boring in Oregon to Dull in Scotland, let’s go!!
This small town’s weird name is misleading because this town is anything but dull. It even has a “Boring” community parade! It’s full of scenic landscapes and a tight-knit community. There’s even a sign that says, “Boring and Scotland” to mark its sister-city relationship with Dull, Scotland.
The name might make you chuckle, but it’s a real place with a quirky weird name that’s hard to forget. Legend has it that the creek’s name originated from the initials “P.P.” carved into a tree by an early settler named Peter Patrick.
Over time, the creek became known as Pee Pee Creek, and the township eventually adopted the same name.
Yes, it’s a real place! Batman is a city in southeastern Turkey with interesting ancient sites nearby. It’s where a lot of Turkey’s oil comes from. Batman is home to a large Kurdish population, so you can expect some amazing local cuisine and music. Plus, the surrounding countryside is stunning, with mountains and rivers making it a nature lover’s dream. It’s definitely not your typical tourist spot, but if you’re looking for an authentic Turkish experience off the beaten path, Batman might just surprise you.
Dildo is another one of those places with unexpectedly weird names, and they’re not about to change it either. This small town has embraced its unusual name with humor. There’s even a Captain Dildo statue! The most intriguing part is that the name has been around since at least 1711, but no one can definitively say where it came from. It’s a fascinating piece of linguistic history!
This town’s name might sound amusing, but it’s a lovely coastal town with beautiful views of the Little Belt strait. It turns out the name is not so weird for a town. Quite the opposite. The name refers to its position between the islands of Funen and Jutland, connected by a narrow strait. It was a crucial crossing point for trade and travel, hence the name.
Middelfart translates to “middle passage”.
Here’s the thing, Truth or Consequences was originally called Hot Springs. Then the town entered a contest in 1950 to change its name to match the popular radio show, “Truth or Consequences.”
The show’s host, Ralph Edwards, promised to broadcast a live episode from the winning town.
Hot Springs won the contest, and as a result, changed its name. The town has maintained a strong connection with the show ever since, hosting an annual Fiesta.
Now that you know the fascinating story behind the name, it’s not so weird after all, right?
A fun name that’s pronounced “kiss-uh-mee,” and it definitely catches the eye and ear.
Kissimmee is a Native American word derived from the Seminole language. The name pays homage to the indigenous people who originally inhabited the region. It’s believed to mean “long water” or “big water,” referring to the area’s extensive waterways and lakes.
This city’s name is fun to say and definitely memorable. Wagga Wagga is an Aboriginal word meaning “many crows” or “crow gathering place.” It’s a fitting name for the area, as it accurately reflects the local wildlife.
Pronounced “Zye-zix,” this spot near the Mojave Desert has a strange name and an interesting history. It was once a health spa and now serves as a desert research center.
The decision on this weird name, Zzzyzx, is a fascinating story of human ingenuity and a bit of a marketing genius! The name was carefully crafted name by Curtis Howe Springer, the man who founded the Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Spa. Get this: Curtis chose the name as a clever marketing ploy, as it would be the last word in any alphabetical listing, ensuring his spa would always be the final mention!
Kakslauttanen is known for its glass igloos. Imagine sleeping under the stars and potentially witnessing the mesmerizing Northern Lights from the comfort of your bed!
Adventure seekers love Kakslauttanen for its range of winter activities like snowmobiling, husky sledding, and ice fishing.
Intercourse is a rural area with a name that certainly raises eyebrows! This Amish country town is famous for its name and its rich history. It’s a great spot for exploring traditional Amish culture and crafts.
Now, as far as the town’s name goes, which is quite a weird name for a town, there are a few theories how the name came about. However, one thing is certain, the name came from an era with a more innocent time. A time when the word “intercourse” had a different connotation. Here are some of the theories Travel and Home discovered:
Weed most definitely deserves its spot in our list of 20 places with unexpectedly weird names. Nowadays the word “weed” brings up images of a more commonly known plant! However, it’s a mere coincidence the town shares a name with a popular substance. Weed is named after founder Abner Weed. Abner Weed was a lumberman who founded a sawmill in the area in the late 19th century.
Weed has great views of Mount Shasta and a relaxed vibe. And for some tongue-in-the-cheek fun, you can buy all kinds of weed souvenirs from the local souvenir shop. It’s a must-visit store when you find yourself in Weed.
This name is a bit of a tongue-twister and has Greek roots, which makes it stand out. Ypsilanti is named after Demetrius Ypsilantis. Demetrius Ypsilantis, a Greek general, was a prominent figure in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire.
The name is symbolic of the admiration and solidarity Americans felt for the Greek struggle for freedom, mirroring their own recent victory in the American Revolution.
This festive town lives up to its name with Christmas-themed attractions year-round, including Santa’s Candy Castle. So, was the town named after our famous Santa Claus? It’s actually quite a charming story.
Originally, the town was named Santa Fe. But that caused a naming conflict with another community in Indiana. So as legend has it, there was only one way to resolve the conflict. Members of the community gathered and had to decide on a new name on Christmas Eve. And so, as the sound of sleigh bells became clear a child shouted “Santa Claus!” The name stuck and up to today, the town is synonymous with Christmas cheer.
Is it not a magical story that perfectly suits the town’s festive atmosphere, right!?
Despite its name, Unalaska, an Aleut word meaning “near the peninsula” or “peninsula-like”, is very much a part of Alaska. It’s known for its breathtaking landscapes and rich Aleutian culture. The Aleutians are known as “people of the sea” and are indigenous inhabitants of the Aleutian Islands and the western part of the Alaska Peninsula.
Why’s name is a practical name. Originally, the intersection of two major highways, State Routes 85 and 86, formed a “Y” shape. When the residents established a post office they needed a name with at least three letters. Hence, they simply chose “Why.”
Why is near the stunning Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (OPCNM). The Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is also UNESCO biosphere reserve in extreme southern Arizona that shares a border with the Mexican state of Sonora. It’s well worth a stop. The park is the only place in the United States where the senita and organ pipe cactus grow wild.
Getting there: The distance between Why, Arizona and the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is about 28 km (17.4 miles). It should take about 16 minutes to get there by car.
Of all the places with unexpectedly weird names, Hell at first appears to be a bit on the bizarre side. Imagine staying in Hell? “What’s your address, sir? Response: Oh, I’m in Hell. Just around the corner.“
Now let me tell you, there are many different theories about how Hell got to be named Hell. I’ll stick to the three most popular theories, for today.
Some people believe it was a case of mistaken translation rather than pure intent. Legend is that a pair of German travelers exclaimed “So schön hell!” (meaning “so beautifully bright”) upon arriving, and the locals misunderstood.
Another belief is that the town was named Hell because of its once swampy area. People described the town as “hellish” with all the mosquitoes attracted to the swamps.
Then there is another legendary story about the town’s founder, George Reeves. It is said that when asked to choose a a name for the town, he responded “I don’t care, you can name it Hell for all I care”.
Whatever the reason for the town’s weird name, this small town embraces its devilish name with fun events and quirky attractions like the Hell Hole Diner and Screams Ice Cream. The local souvenirs play up the name with fun and quirky designs.
These travel essentials are some of Travel and Home’s most popular travel necessities and they also make great gifts!
This tiny town got its name because the locals couldn’t agree on how to spell Ptarmigan, a local bird. Chicken was easier!
The Lost Chicken Hill Mine, in Chicken, is a real wild story! Picture this: way back in 1895, folks were going crazy for gold up in Alaska. This one mine, though, was a bit of a mystery. They’d find gold, then poof, it’d vanish like a sneaky chicken! Can you imagine the frustration? That’s why they called it “Lost Chicken Hill.” It’s like a real-life treasure hunt, only with pickaxes and dreams of striking it rich.
Of all the places with unexpectedly weird names, Hell’s Half Acre sounds like the scariest of all. But it’s just the contrary. It’s a truly unique and otherworldly landscape. Hell’s Half Acre’s 320 acre is a large geological formation characterized by deep ravines, caves, and rock formations that are sculptured by wind and water over millions of years. Its hard-packed eroded earth creates a distinctive texture and color palette.
Interestingly, it was also used as the filming location for the fictional planet Klendathu in the movie “Starship Troopers.”
It feels like a place that looks like it belongs on another planet, right here on Earth, don’t you think?
And last but not least in our list of places with unexpectedly weird names, is a tiny village with a name that might seem a bit uninteresting, but it’s charming and quaint.
Dull, Scotland gets its name from the Pictish word “dol,” which translates to “water-meadow” or “haugh.” This is similar to the Gaelic word “dail,” which also means meadow.
So, the name “Dull” is actually quite descriptive of the local geography. It suggests a flat, grassy area near water, which is often the case in many Scottish towns.
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