Memory Aid for German Words

 English - German memory aids

Duck - Ente (the duck enters the water)

kite - Drachen  (which you drag along)

German - English memory aids

Drachen - kite

Ente (plural Enten) - duck (ducks)

Words which are the same in German and English

German - English

Park - park

So - so

wow - wow

Words which are the same English and German

park - Park

so - so 

wow - wow

German And English Words Which Look Similar

German - English

Haare - hair

Karten - cards

Musik - music

English - German Words Which Look Similar

hair - Haare

help - helfen

cards - Karten (I cart my cards about it the Karten)

Matching Word Endings

Highlights Of Canary Islands

 If you are considering spending a holiday, the winter, or all year in one of the Spanish speaking Canary Islands. What do the islands offer?

We visited Little La Palma and larger Tenerife this year. I have written about them in other blog posts. Now I am researching other islands for my next trip. What am I looking for:

1 Food and wine attractions - Wineries or wine museums to visit. Food museums. (Tenerife had a wine museum with a section on honey.)

2 Distinctive but affordable hotels. 

We stayed in the Parador by Mount Teide in the middle of Tenerife for two nights, and the Parador hotel on La Palma for about a week. The timings were constrained by the days and times of the Fred Olsen ferries from Tenerife to La Palma and back,Ryanair and international flights from Stansted in the UK to Tenerife's South Airport. Both Paradors were remote, isolated, but we had hired a car to tour the islands. 

3 A hotel with a swimming pool which is heated, and open in winter.

4 Natural attractions.

5 Shopping, factory visits, shops in hotels or nearby, shopping centres nearby.

6 Museums and attractions, especially writers or artists. 

Tenerife had the Agatha Christie city hillside steps with the names of her books one on the front of each step and a statue or bust at the top. 

La Palma had a museum about volcanoes. Whilst my husband was climbing the side of an now dormant volcano, I spent the day watching videos of the most recent volcano which when active destroyed many homes and part of the island but added land down by the sea on the side where the lava flowed.)

My research has added these items to my wishlist.

LANZAROTE

This post is being researched. Come back later today, and look for occasional updates.

People Named After Biblical Places and Modern Israel and Jordan

 My first thoughts were of the author Israel Zangwill. Then of many American stars called Jordan. I did a little research with the help of Ask Gemini and came up with the first list below:

I then wondered, what about the city of Jericho? I asked Gemini and it used the Wikipedia entry on Jericho (given name) to produce the list below. That reminded me to look in Wikipedia to find people from a city or named after it. My search gave me the second list below.

Historical & Biblical Places Used as Names

• Shiloh (Named after the ancient biblical city of Shiloh in the West Bank/Samaria)

  • Shiloh Jolie-Pitt: Daughter of actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

  • Shiloh Fernandez: American actor (Evil Dead, Red Riding Hood).

  • Shiloh Keo: Former NFL safety and Super Bowl champion.

• Ariel (Poetic name for Jerusalem in biblical texts)

  • Ariel Winter: American actress, known for her role in Modern Family.  

  • Ariel Sharon: Former Prime Minister of Israel.

  • Ariel Pink: American indie rock singer and songwriter.

  • Ariel Helwani: Canadian sports journalist and MMA broadcaster.  

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Geographic & Natural Landmarks

• Jordan / Yarden (Named after the Jordan River forming the eastern border)

  • Jordan Peele: Oscar-winning American filmmaker and comedian.

  • Michael B. Jordan: American actor (Creed, Black Panther).  

  • Jordan Fisher: American actor, singer, and Broadway performer.  

  • Jordan Pickford: English national team football goalkeeper.

• Eden (Referencing the biblical Garden of Eden/region)

  • Eden Hazard: Belgian former professional football star (Chelsea, Real Madrid).

  • Eden Sher: American actress best known for The Middle.

  • Eden Golan: Israeli singer who represented Israel at Eurovision 2024.

• Carmel (Named after Mount Carmel in Haifa)

  • Carmel Myers: Prominent early American silent film actress.

  • Carmel Snow: Longtime editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar.

  • Carmel Budiardjo: Renowned British human rights activist.

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Cities, Regions & Surnames-as-First Names

• Zion / Tzion (A biblical name for Jerusalem/Eretz Yisrael)

  • Zion Williamson: NBA star forward for the New Orleans Pelicans.

  • Zion David Marley: Son of Lauryn Hill and Rohan Marley (and subject of the song "To Zion").

• Sharon (Named after the Sharon Plain region along the coast)

  • Sharon Stone: Academy Award-nominated American actress.

  • Sharon Osbourne: British television personality, music manager, and author.

  • Sharon Tate: Iconic American actress and 1960s cultural figure.

• Galilee / Galilea (Named after the Galilee region in northern Israel)

• Galilea Montijo: Famous Mexican actress and television host.

• JERICHO

• several notable figures in entertainment, sports, and literature carry the name Jericho:

  Famous Real People

  • Chris Jericho (born Christopher Irvine): One of the most famous figures associated with the name. He is a world-renowned Canadian-American professional wrestler (a multi-time champion in WWE and AEW), lead singer of the rock band Fozzy, and host of the Talk Is Jericho podcast.  

  • Jericho Rosales: A superstar actor, singer, and film producer in the Philippines. Dubbed the "Asian Drama King," he has starred in major television dramas and films that have aired globally across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.  

  • Jericho Brown: An acclaimed American poet and professor. He won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for his collection The Tradition.  

  • Jericho Sims: An American professional basketball player who plays in the NBA (notably for the New York Knicks).  

  • Jerricho Cotchery: A former American NFL wide receiver (who played for the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers) and current football coach.  

  • Jericho Cruz: A professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

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  Famous Fictional Characters

  • Jericho (DC Comics): A superhero in DC Comics (Joseph Wilson), best known as a member of the Teen Titans.

  • Jericho Drumm (Marvel Comics): A superhero who assumes the identity of Brother Voodoo (and later Doctor Voodoo).   How many more do you know? Please contact me through comments. 

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Placenames in Asia named after famous people

Singapore Placenames

 I lived in Singapore for many years and in Singapore many landmarks, streets and squares and hotels are named after Raffles. Raffles Hotel. Also several areas and railway stations and streets are named after British people from earlier eras. 

You can buy a book on the origin of Singapore street names.

When Visiting Malaysia, from adjoining Singapore, I was told about the origins of names.

In the Philippines I was told that the country was named after Philip.

Indian Placenames

In India I noticed the Sassoon Docks in Bombay, which was renamed Mumbai. The docks were named after Sassoon who funded them. The Docks were his idea. The Sassoons were a famous family, who founded the Hong Kong an Shanghai Bank, HSBC. I remember reading Sassoon's poems about WWI and visiting the house and zoo associated with Sassoon in southern England.

That was just a tiny corner of India. Associated with the UK and worldwide through the Sassoon name.

Today, September 8th 2026, I used Ask Gemini for some more memorable place names in Asia. I find it is easier to remember names of cities or train stations if you associate them with the people they are named after. 

Many major cities, regions, and geographic landmarks across Asia are named after historical figures, monarchs, military leaders, explorers, and national heroes:

Up popped useful results from the Philippines, Vietnam, Pakistan, India, Malaysia and UAE.

Major Cities & Capitals

• Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam): Formerly named Saigon, the country's largest city was renamed in 1976 in honor of Hồ Chí Minh, the revolutionary leader and prime minister/president of North Vietnam.

• Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia): Renamed in 1924, the name translates to "Red Hero," chosen in honor of Damdin Sükhbaatar, the founding leader of the Mongolian Revolution and national hero.

• Faisalabad (Pakistan): Formerly Lyallpur (named after Sir James Lyall), the city was renamed in 1979 in honor of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, who had close ties to Pakistan.

• Islamabad (Pakistan): While meaning "City of Islam," several districts within the capital are named after famous historical leaders, such as the Faisal Mosque.

• Davao City (Philippines) / General Santos City (Philippines): General Santos City was named after General Paulino Santos, a former Commanding General of the Philippine Army who spearheaded settlement in the region.

• George Town (Penang, Malaysia): Capital of the state of Penang, named after King George III of Great Britain.

• Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India): Named in honor of Captain Archibald Blair of the British East India Company, who established a colony there in 1789.

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Provinces, States & Regions

• Rizal Province (Philippines): Named directly after José Rizal, the national hero, writer, and polymath of the Philippines.

• Quezon / Quezon City (Philippines): Named after Manuel L. Quezon, the second President of the Philippines, who established the city to replace Manila as the capital.

• Jharkand / Telangana (India): While many Indian states take indigenous or linguistic names, Victoria Terminus / Victoria in Mumbai and various historic districts honor historic figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji (e.g., Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, formerly Aurangabad, named after Aurangzeb and later Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj).

• Cox's Bazar (Bangladesh): A famous coastal town and long beach named after Captain Hiram Cox, an officer of the British East India Company who served as a diplomatic superintendent.

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Geographic Features & Islands

• Mount Everest (Nepal/China border): Named after Sir George Everest, a Welsh surveyor and Surveyor General of India who oversaw the initial mapping of the Indian subcontinent.

• K2 / Mount Godwin-Austen (Pakistan/China border): Also known historically as Mount Godwin-Austen, named in honor of Henry Haversham Godwin-Austen, an early surveyor and explorer of the region.

• Sir Bani Yas (United Arab Emirates): An island named after Sheikh Yas, the founder and progenitor of the Bani Yas tribal confederation.

• Barents Sea / Bering Strait (North Asia/Russia): Sea and strait bordering northern and eastern Asia, named after explorers Willem Barentsz and Vitus Bering.

Placenames in Australia and New Zealand named after famous people

 I wondered about how many places in Australia and New Zealand are named after famous people. My first thought was Victoria after Queen Victoria. My second thought was Melbourne, after her minister, Melbourne.

I did a search with Gemini and was delighted to find a whole lot more, especially Tasmania and Cook.

Australia

States, Territories & Capital

• Victoria: State named after Queen Victoria of Great Britain.

• Queensland: State also named in honor of Queen Victoria.

• Tasmania: State named after Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who was the first European to reach the island in 1642 (formerly Van Diemen's Land).

• Brisbane (Queensland): Capital city named after Sir Thomas Brisbane, Governor of New South Wales (1821–1825).

• Sydney (New South Wales): Capital city named in honor of Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney, British Home Secretary.

• Melbourne (Victoria): Capital city named after British Prime Minister William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne.

• Darwin (Northern Territory): Capital city named after naturalist Charles Darwin by his former shipmate Captain John Clements Wickham of HMS Beagle.

• Hobart (Tasmania): Capital city named after Robert Hobart, 4th Earl of Buckinghamshire, British Colonial Secretary.

Major Cities & Regions

• Adelaide (South Australia): Named after Queen Adelaide, wife of King William IV of the United Kingdom.

• Perth (Western Australia): Named by Sir James Stirling after Perth, Scotland, in honor of Sir George Murray, British Secretary of State for War and the Colonies (who was born in Perthshire).

• Townsville (Queensland): Named after founder and sea captain Robert Towns.

• Alice Springs (Northern Territory): Named after Alice Todd, wife of Sir Charles Todd, Superintendent of Telegraphs during the construction of the Australian Overland Telegraph Line.

• Flinders Ranges / Flinders Island: Named after navigator and cartographer Matthew Flinders, who first circumnavigated mainland Australia.

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New Zealand

Major Cities & Regions

• Auckland: Largest city named in honor of George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland, First Lord of the Admiralty.

• Wellington: Capital city named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, hero of the Battle of Waterloo.

• Christchurch: Named after Christ Church college at Oxford University, heavily associated with British politician and founder John Robert Godley.

• Nelson: City named in honor of British naval hero Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson.

• Picton: Town named after Sir Thomas Picton, a British general who died at the Battle of Waterloo.

• Gisborne: Named after William Gisborne, New Zealand Colonial Secretary (1869–1872).

• Palmerston North: Named after Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, former British Prime Minister.

• Hastings: City named after Warren Hastings, the first Governor-General of India.

• Napier: City named after Sir Charles Napier, British general in the Anglo-Sikh Wars.

Geographic Features

• Cook Strait & Mount Cook (Aoraki): Named after English explorer Captain James Cook, the first European to circumnavigate and map New Zealand.

• Tasman Glacier / Tasman Sea: Named after Dutch explorer Abel Tasman.

• Foveaux Strait: Named after Joseph Foveaux, Lieutenant-Governor of Norfolk Island and administrator of New South Wales.

• How many more do you know? Please contact me through comments. 

  -ends-

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Placenames in the UK, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Europe, named after famous people

 

I recently, in 2026, learned that Constantinople was named after Roman Constantine. I wondered, how many more cities are named after famous people from the past? In the UK we have Hadrian's Wall. Many cities have names ending in chester, from caster or fort, from Roman times. 

United Kingdom & Scotland

England

• Nelson (Lancashire): Named after Admiral Horatio Nelson (originally named after a public house, The Lord Nelson, built in his honor).

• Telford (Shropshire): Named after famous Scottish civil engineer Thomas Telford, who designed roads, bridges, and canals throughout Great Britain.

• Petersfield (Hampshire): Named after Saint Peter, to whom the local parish church is dedicated.

• Grimsby (Lincolnshire): According to local legend and the Grimsbytale, founded by a Viking fisherman named Grim.

• Bishop's Stortford (Hertfordshire): Named in connection with the Bishops of London, who owned the manor from the 11th century.

Scotland

• Fort William (Highlands): Named after King William III (William of Orange).

• Fort Augustus (Highlands): Named after Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (son of King George II).

• Alexandria (West Dunbartonshire): Named in honor of Alexander Smollett, local landowner and MP.

• Helensburgh (Argyll and Bute): Named after Lady Helen Colquhoun, wife of Sir James Colquhoun, who founded the town in 1784.

• Maryhill (Glasgow): Named after Mary Hill, an heiress who inherited the estate and laid out the settlement in the late 18th century.

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Wales & Ireland

Wales

• Llandudno: Named after Saint Tudno, the 6th-century patron saint of the Great Orme.

• St Davids (Pembrokeshire): Named after Saint David (Dewi Sant), the patron saint of Wales.

• Llangollen: Named after Saint Collen, a 6th-century monk who founded a church beside the River Dee.

• Tredegar (Blaenau Gwent): Named after the Morgan family of Tredegar House (specifically Sir William Morgan).

Ireland

• Portlaoise (formerly Maryborough): Historically named Maryborough after Queen Mary I of England ("Bloody Mary").

• Daingean (formerly Philipstown): Historically named Philipstown after King Philip II of Spain (husband of Queen Mary I).

• Cobh (formerly Queenstown): Renamed Queenstown in 1849 to commemorate a visit by Queen Victoria, before reverting to Cobh in 1920.

• St. Patrick's Well / Kilpatrick: Dozens of towns and landmarks across Ireland are named after Saint Patrick.

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Europe

France

• Louisbourg / Saint-Louis: Many towns carry the name of King Louis IX (Saint Louis) or King Louis XIV.

• Albertville: Named after King Charles Albert of Sardinia, who incorporated the town in 1836.

• Charleville-Mézières: Named after Charles de Gonzague, Duke of Nevers and Rethel.

Germany & Central Europe

• Karlsruhe (Germany): Named after its founder, Margrave Charles III William (Karl) of Baden-Durlach.

• Ludwigsburg (Germany): Named in honor of Eberhard Louis (Ludwig), Duke of Württemberg.

• St. Petersburg (Russia): Named after Saint Peter the Apostle (though founded by Czar Peter the Great).

• Kaliningrad (Russia, historically Königsberg): Renamed after Bolshevik leader Mikhail Kalinin in 1946.

• Zelenogradsk / Formerly Cranz (Russia): Numerous Soviet-era renamings across Eastern Europe honored historical figures like Vladimir Lenin (Leningrad, Ulyanovsk) and Joseph Stalin (Stalingrad, now Volgograd).

Netherlands, Belgium, & Southern Europe

• Eindhoven / Willemstad (Netherlands): Willemstad was fortified and named after William the Silent (William I, Prince of Orange).

• Charleroi (Belgium): Named in honor of King Charles II of Spain (who ruled the Southern Netherlands at the time).

• San Sebastián (Spain): Named after Saint Sebastian.

• Valletta (Malta): Capital city named after Jean Parisot de Valette, Grand Master of the Order of Saint John, who defended the island during the Great Siege of 1565.

I then tried another search, which capital cities in Europe were named after famous people? 

I got these results.

Several European capital cities are named after historical figures, monarchs, commanders, or patron saints:

Named after Monarchs & Rulers

• Valletta (Malta): Named after Jean Parisot de Valette, Grand Master of the Order of Saint John, who successfully defended the island against the Ottoman Empire during the Great Siege of 1565.

• Vaduz (Liechtenstein): Named in connection with the noble ruling House of Liechtenstein and historical counts of Vaduz (specifically originating from Faduzes, linked to historical local rulers/owners).

• Kyiv (Ukraine): According to medieval tradition and the Primary Chronicle, the city was founded by and named after Kyi, the eldest of three brothers and a legendary prince of the East Slavic Polans tribe.

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Named after Christian Saints

• San Marino (San Marino): Capital (and country) named after Saint Marinus, a Christian stonemason who founded a monastic community on Mount Titano in 301 AD.

• Minsk (Belarus - Historical Legend): Local folk legend attributes the city's name to a legendary heroic giant and founder named Menesk (or Minyash).

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Named after Mythological Figures & Ancient Gods

• Athens (Greece): Named after Athena, the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom, warfare, and handicraft, following a mythical competition between Athena and Poseidon to become the city's patron.

• Rome / Roma (Italy): According to Roman mythology, named after its founder and first king, Romulus, who built the city alongside his twin brother Remus in 753 BC.

• How many more do you know? Please contact me through comments. 

• -ends-

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Placenames in Brazil and South America named after famous people

 Can you name places in Brazil and south america named after famous people? I immediately think of  Bolivia named after Simon Bolivar. 

Ask Gemini found me many more.

Brazil

• Florianópolis (Santa Catarina): Named after Floriano Peixoto, the second President of Brazil.

• Petrópolis (Rio de Janeiro): Named in honor of Emperor Pedro II of Brazil (Petrópolis translates to "City of Pedro").

• Teresópolis (Rio de Janeiro): Named after Empress Teresa Cristina, wife of Emperor Pedro II.

• Goiânia (Goiás) / Presidente Prudente (São Paulo): Named after Prudente de Morais, the first civilian President of Brazil.

• Santos Dumont (Minas Gerais): Named after Alberto Santos-Dumont, Brazilian aviation pioneer.

• Rondonôpolis (Mato Grosso) & State of Rondônia: Named after Cândido Rondon, famous Brazilian military officer, explorer, and indigenous rights advocate.

• Duque de Caxias (Rio de Janeiro): Named after Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, Duke of Caxias, military hero and patron of the Brazilian Army.

• Presidente Epitácio / Presidente Epitácio Pessoa: Named after Epitácio Pessoa, President of Brazil (1919–1922).

• Joao Pessoa (Paraíba): Capital city named after João Pessoa Cavalcanti de Albuquerque, governor of Paraíba assassinated in 1930.

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Rest of South America

Countries & Sovereign States

• Colombia: Named after explorer Christopher Columbus.

• Bolivia: Named in honor of Simón Bolívar, Venezuelan military leader and liberator of northern South America.

Capital & Major Cities

• Sucre (Bolivia): Constitutional capital named after Antonio José de Sucre, Venezuelan independence hero and companion of Simón Bolívar.

• Sarteneja / San Martin (Argentina & Peru): Dozens of towns across Argentina, Peru, and Colombia are named General San Martín in honor of José de San Martín, national hero and liberator of southern South America.

• Valdupar (Colombia): Named after indigenous chief Eupar (Valle de Upar).

• O'Higgins Region / Puerto O'Higgins (Chile): Named after Bernardo O'Higgins, supreme director and founding hero of Chilean independence.

• Valdivia (Chile): Named after Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia.

• George Town (Guyana): Capital named after King George III of Great Britain.

• Paramaribo (Suriname) / Cayenne (French Guiana): Port Louis / Cayenne named after French monarchs (King Louis XIV).

• Barinas / Ciudad Bolívar (Venezuela): Formerly Angostura, renamed in 1846 to honor Simón Bolívar.

• Maracaibo (Venezuela): Traditionally believed to be named after local Indigenous Cacique Mara.

Geographic Features & Regions

• Magellan Strait (Chile/Argentina): Named after Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who navigated it in 1520.

• Darwin Sound / Mount Darwin (Chile): Named after naturalist Charles Darwin during his voyage on HMS Beagle.

• O'Higgins Glacier & Lake O'Higgins (Chile/Argentina): Named after Bernardo O'Higgins.

• -ends-

• How many more do you know? Please contact me through comments. 

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