Subscribe Now

travelers today

Home » Top 5

What's In A Name? Learn About The Legend Behind The Names Of These Five Places

Travelers Today       By    Glory Moralidad

Updated: Mar 06, 2017 05:46 AM EST

Text Size: A A A

Voyagers and locals have begun calling their places and countries out of legends and myths throughout generations. Here are five places and the interesting story behind their names.

Mindoro, Philippines. The name of the place was taken from two lovers destined to meet each other, Princess Mina and Doro. The story started when Mina was taking a bath in the forest river when she encountered Doro hunting for a deer that would cure his mother's illness. The two talked for some time and fell in love. But, Doro would be returning home to bring the animal to his mother. He promised to go back and ask Mina's father, the datu, for his permission to marry. Doro did so, but enraged the datu. He was thrown into the river and was eaten by crocodiles. The next morning, while the datu was searching for Mina, the locals saw her body by the river, as she had committed suicide. The people then named the place as Mindoro to remember the two lovers.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Story has it that all this started when a rich lady named Penh, who lived on the outskirts of the town, saw four bronze statues of the Buddha in a washed-up tree near her home after the great flood of the Mekong river. Seeing this as a sign from Buddha, she built the statues a new temple where people can visit them. The temple became famous, and the area is now known as Phnom Penh which means "the hill of the Lady Penh."

Moldova. Who knows a country could be named after a dog fighting a bull? The Roman Prince Dragos had his favorite dog Molda by his side all the time until a hunting mishap had the two animals fight to the death. The bison and Molda both died from the fight, and Dragos became so disheartened that he named most of the area after his dog.

Zagreb, Croatia. A Croatian viceroy led his thirsty soldiers in a desert. Out of anger of their dire situation, he drew his sword to the ground where water surprisingly gushed from the sandy regions. The land was called "za breg" or beyond the hill. After seeing that the water may have come from beyond the hill which is the river bank of the River Sava.

Greenland. The name of the country was coined from Viking Erik the Red who was exiled from Iceland. He settled in the place soon to be called Greenland for several years. After his exile had been lifted up, he wanted to stay in the area and would like to have people in it. But since the place is barren and cold, he thought no one would come and therefore, changed the name to something warm and inviting - Kalaallit Nunaat, or "land of the humans." His planned seemed to work as hundreds of people were enticed to go there. In English, Kalaallit Nunaat means "Greenland."

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018

Tags
travel, travel guide, travel and tourism, history
© 2023 Traverlers Today, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Join Our Conversation

Subscribe to our newsletter

Receive the latest travel news, reviews, and more..

Most Popular

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

Planning for a trip takes some time, even if it's just you g

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

If you have never traveled before but are thinking of doing so then

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

So there are a few islands that can be found off the Sco

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

You need to know how to plan appropriately and

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

A campus visit's significance could not be overstated. After all, fo

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

Having a gallery wall brings plenty of benefits to your

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

There is something equally relaxing and invigorati

Photo by Erik Odiin on Unsplash

Things That Will Help Cost-Conscious Vacationers Save Money

There are several ways you can significan

Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels

How to Make Vet Visits Affordable in 2022

If the situation is minor, you might be lucky and get away

Photo by Tim Samuel from Pexels

Know Your Florida Driving Rules

There is so much to do in the region, but we want to focus on some of

Photo by Ging Ang from Pexels

Holidaying in your own Country: Try these Fun Trips!

Many countries are opening their borders, but if

Photo by Jessica Lewis Creative from Pexels

The Best Tech Tools for Expats

Here’s a quick look at most versatile tech tools for expats on the m

Photo by Tobi from Pexels

How to Turn a Road Trip Into A Luxury Adventure

But a road trip doesn’t have to mean living on the

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Do you want to become a citizen of Australia

Hair transplant Istanbul: Why is it so popular?

Hair Transplant Istanbul: Why is it so Popular?

Getting a hair transplant in Istanbul is affordable i

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

They are incredibly expensive, and they’re also in sh

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

International trade holds great importance in a

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

Riesling is Germany’s best-known wine, but the country makes other fi

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

There is nothing like the great outdoors –– natureâ€

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

Who knew you could pack your entire life away into one litt

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

San Diego is a magnificent place, and it would not be

travelers today

© 2023 TRAVELERS TODAY All rights reserved.

Subscribe to our newsletter
Real Time Analytics