# Capital cities named "Capital City" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 23, 2015, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663 "2015-01-23T08:29:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/1 "2015-01-23T08:29:51Z")
In the Japanese language, the word for capital city is kyo. For over a thousand years the capital was Kyoto, the name means “the capital.” The capital was later moved to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo, which means Eastern Capital. Are there any other capital cities named “The Capital” in the local language? ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/2 "2015-01-23T09:02:00Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > In the Japanese language, the word for capital city is kyo. For over a thousand years the capital was Kyoto, the name means “the capital.” The capital was later moved to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo, which means Eastern Capital. > > Are there any other capital cities named “The Capital” in the local language? This practice came from China. Beijing is “northern capital.” Nanjing is “southern capital.” During the Yuan Dynasty, Beijing was known as Dadu, or the “great capital.” In Japan, although it never was a capital, Nagoya is sometimes referred to as _chukyo_ (central capital). One of the capital cities of Balhae (Korean) was Sanggyeong, “upper capital.” Seoul was called in the past Namgyeong (southern capital) and Gyeongseong (capital city). On edit: Some more Chinese historical cities: Dongdu, Dongjing (both eastern capital), Shangjing (upper capital), Shengjing (grand capital). ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/3 "2015-01-23T10:09:23Z")
> [@jovan](#): > > Seoul was called in the past Namgyeong (southern capital) and Gyeongseong (capital city). And today is known as 서울특별시 (Special City of the Capital, since 서울 means “Capital”). ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/4 "2015-01-23T10:24:49Z")
Here’s a good list to work with: > **[List of national capital city name etymologies](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_capital_city_name_etymologies)** > > This list covers English language national capital city names with their etymologies. Some of these include notes on indigenous names and their etymologies. Some of these etymologies are uncertain. The former capitals also have their etymologies listed in this article. > >  Afghanistan: ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/5 "2015-01-23T10:33:11Z")
So far, the closest has been Ecuador: Quito: Named after the Quitu tribe. The name is a combination of two Tsafiki words: “Quitso” (“center”) and “To” (“the world”); hence therefore “Quito” probably means “center of the world.” ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/6 "2015-01-23T10:40:51Z")
Bingo! Kazakhstan: Astana: From Kazakh Астана, meaning “Capital City.” . ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/7 "2015-01-23T10:55:19Z")
Okay, that’s all. Other cool fact: The capitals of United Arab Emirates and Uganda are both named after the same animal – the gazelle. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/8 "2015-01-23T11:02:00Z")
Well Islamabad’s full name is[Islamabad Capital Territory](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamabad_Capital_Territory) ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/9 "2015-01-23T11:18:23Z")
Canberra is located in the ACT (Australian Capital Territory). ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/10 "2015-01-23T12:20:28Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Well Islamabad’s full name is[Islamabad Capital Territory](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamabad_Capital_Territory) That’s not what the linked article says: > [@](#): > > The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) (Urdu:وفاقی دارالحکومت) is one of the two federal territories of Pakistan. It includes Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, and covers an area of 1,165.5 km² (450 mi²) of which 906 km² (349.8 mi²) is Islamabad proper. So it looks like the Islamabad Capital Territory is just a region _containing_ the capital Islamabad, similar to how the Australian Capital Territory contains the capital Canberra. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/11 "2015-01-23T12:30:29Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > That’s not what the linked article says:So it looks like the Islamabad Capital Territory is just a region _containing_ the capital Islamabad, similar to how the Australian Capital Territory contains the capital Canberra. The distinction between the city and the region was abolished by virtue of the _Islamabad Capital Territory (Administration) Order 1981_. Now its just all the ICT. You are right that de facto, the division exists still. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/12 "2015-01-23T12:44:13Z")
The Simpsons did it. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/13 "2015-01-23T13:15:07Z")
Well, in the Golden Age DC Universe, Green Lantern Alan Scott lived and worked in “Capitol City”, but that’s Capit **o** l, with an “o” > **[Capitol City](https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Capitol_City)** > > Alan functioned out of Capitol City for only a short period of time before establishing his permanent base of operations in Gotham City.Capitol City is located in the American midwest and is the original base of operations for Alan Scott - the Golden... Wouldn’t it be ironic if Capitol City wasn’t the capital of anything? edited to add: Apparently there’s another “Capitol City” in Wonder Comics , which I’ve never heard of > **[Capitol City (Location) - Comic Vine](https://comicvine.gamespot.com/capitol-city/4020-57573/)** > > Capitol City is the heart of the U.S.A. nation in Eart-Two. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/14 "2015-01-23T14:53:02Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > The Simpsons did it. Yes, assuming that their “Capital City” is, in fact, the capital city of their state. Do we know that for sure? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/15 "2015-01-23T15:29:18Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Okay, that’s all. Other cool fact: The capitals of United Arab Emirates and Uganda are both named after the same animal – the gazelle. Different species, however: Mountain Gazelle _Gazella gazella_ and Impala _Aepyceros melampus_. ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/16 "2015-01-23T16:15:01Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > The Simpsons did it. The “Windy Apple”. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/17 "2015-01-23T16:32:12Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Here’s a good list to work with: > [List of national capital city name etymologies - Wikipedia](http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_capital_city_name_etymologies) From the list: Angkor is a vernacular form of the word នគរ nokor which comes from the Sanskrit word नगर nagara meaning capital or city. Ulaanbaatar:, formerly Niislel Khüree (Mongolian: Нийслэл = “capital”, Хүрээ = “camp”). ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/18 "2015-01-23T16:41:47Z")
Damn, the _kyo_ and _jing_ are some of the best SD fun facts I’ve learned in a while. I’m headed to the dog park, and soon they will be known, however briefly, to many complete strangers. Who will pass it on. So they better be right, although that’s never stopped me before. ETA from previous post: What’s Watt? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/19 "2015-01-23T16:48:42Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > In the Japanese language, the word for capital city is kyo. For over a thousand years the capital was Kyoto, the name means “the capital.” The capital was later moved to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo, which means Eastern Capital. The kanji for Kyoto is 京都 Kyooto, with the second character meaning “city.” Kyoto does mean “Capital City” rather than “the capital.” In Japanese Tokyo is 東京都 Tookyooto. Eastern Capital City. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663/20 "2015-01-23T16:49:45Z")
So why is The Capitol in the US capital city not a building named as a typo? /real question And for the life of me I don’t which caps I just used. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-cities-named-capital-city/710663.md?page=2)