Los Angeles is actually a shortening of a much longer name, the specifics of which is unknown. It seems to be poetically named after Mary, some variant of “the city of our lady of angels”. Many places along the west coast were named after religious figures, hence the prevalence of “san” or “santa”.
It’s short for Our Lady Queen of the Angels, the original name of the settlement. That proved unwieldy, which is why they shortened it to Los Angeles. It was highly original, as it was founded by Catholics from the San Gabriel Mission.
We also use a whole ton of Native American names for places, though badly mangled in pronunciation I’m sure.
I suppose that still makes us fairly uncreative with place names.
Spanish names too in the west
The spanish names are always funny since they’re often just descriptions.
El Paso: The Pass
Los Angeles: The Angels
Los Alamos: The Poplars
Frio County: Cold County
And many many other examples.
Florida -> Flowery
What … what exactly does “The Angels” describe
Los Angeles is actually a shortening of a much longer name, the specifics of which is unknown. It seems to be poetically named after Mary, some variant of “the city of our lady of angels”. Many places along the west coast were named after religious figures, hence the prevalence of “san” or “santa”.
They said often, not always 😅
Angels. As in, like, angels angels. All of 'em.
It’s short for Our Lady Queen of the Angels, the original name of the settlement. That proved unwieldy, which is why they shortened it to Los Angeles. It was highly original, as it was founded by Catholics from the San Gabriel Mission.
But are we less creative than the village of hill-hill-hill though?
How many of those Native American place names are just descriptions of the place in the local dialect?
Someone else who lived in the Seattle area!!
The PNW for sure, but also all over. Milwaukee, Tallahassee, Tucson and Connecticut are all Native American in origin.
Oh true.
Many made up to sound like names they came up with.