# I need a name for a city of merpeople. Thoughts? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 22, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112 "2010-12-22T20:13:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/1 "2010-12-22T20:13:08Z")
For Yule-related reasons I am breaking my embargo on writing fiction. I need a name for a city inhabited by mermaid and mermen. Thoughts? Nothing related to Poseidon or Neptune, please. The Master of Earthquakes is a character in the story and it’s a plot point that he does not rule the merfolk. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/2 "2010-12-22T20:13:58Z")
Aquaville. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/3 "2010-12-22T20:16:10Z")
New Orleans. (Too soon?) ETA: How 'bout Atlanta? If it’s good enough for Futurama … ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/4 "2010-12-22T20:27:37Z")
Do you want a humorous name or something more straight-forward? I suppose you could go with something obvious like “Aquatown” or “Waterville”. “Bleeding Damp” is another one I can think of. ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/5 "2010-12-22T20:32:47Z")
- Aquarius - Neptune - Oceania - DihydrogenOxideville ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/6 "2010-12-22T20:33:09Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > Do you want a humorous name or something more straight-forward? > > I suppose you could go with something obvious like “Aquatown” or “Waterville”. “Bleeding Damp” is another one I can think of. Something myth-inspired, as the story I’ve been asked to write is set in a fantasy-kitchen sink world in which various pantheons existed at one time; Poseidon is the last of the Olympians. Right now I’m using “Arion,” but I don’t like that because Arion is a son of Poseidon and the merfolk hate that son of Kronos. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/7 "2010-12-22T20:36:40Z")
Ys (wrong mythology maybe) ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/8 "2010-12-22T20:39:15Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Something myth-inspired, as the story I’ve been asked to write is set in a fantasy-kitchen sink world in which various pantheons existed at one time; Poseidon is the last of the Olympians. Right now I’m using “Arion,” but I don’t like that because Arion is a son of Poseidon and the merfolk hate that son of Kronos. [Okeanos](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanus)? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/9 "2010-12-22T20:39:40Z")
Or how about Tethys? ---
**Author:** ![Vihaga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Vihaga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vihaga)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/10 "2010-12-22T20:40:32Z")
Mertropolis. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/11 "2010-12-22T20:41:51Z")
Wadj Wer ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/12 "2010-12-22T20:43:28Z")
It seems to me it should be associated with their culture in some way. If being merpeople and living in the sea is normal to them, why reference this in their city name? It’s not like we live in Humanville or Mammaltown or Air-Breather-Land. What are the natural features like in the area, for example? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/13 "2010-12-22T20:45:33Z")
Something named after Oceanus or Tethys, like Athens after Athena? Oceanapolis? ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/14 "2010-12-22T20:49:02Z")
fluiddruid is right. They are likely to give their towns names of things that are desirable to them. In their case, things they’ve only heard of or find unattainable, like flowers or, I don’t know, iPods. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/15 "2010-12-22T20:57:10Z")
Since it’s a fantasy city filled with people in the ocean I vote for Lawyerton. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/16 "2010-12-22T20:59:33Z")
> [@fluiddruid](#): > > It seems to me it should be associated with their culture in some way. If being merpeople and living in the sea is normal to them, why reference this in their city name? It’s not like we live in Humanville or Mammaltown or Air-Breather-Land. > > What are the natural features like in the area, for example? I’m watching some Cousteau right now to figure that part out. As to your first point, I agree that it won’t be anything like _Oceanopolis_. I want something euphonious that relates subtly to sea-deities in myth (as opposed to real sea-deities). It just can’t be anything related to Poseidon, as to these characters that would be like a Pole naming a city after Hitler. **DT** and whoever else mentioned it upthread, I like _Tethys_ and have put in on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/17 "2010-12-22T21:04:33Z")
Would they even have a city? ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/18 "2010-12-22T21:07:50Z")
Kitchen sink, eh? Then I’d go with Nozzleville, Faucetown, or Enamelton. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/19 "2010-12-22T21:08:08Z")
Well, if you wanna be a bit silly how about Tunatown? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112/20 "2010-12-22T21:10:36Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > Would they even have a city? Why not? It’s a fantasy universe in which both mermaids & Poseidon are real, though my mermaids aren’t 't be as generally malicious as those from myth. > [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Kitchen sink, eh? Then I’d go with Nozzleville, Faucetown, or Enamelton. The usual empty threats, though I am grateful you didn’t include _Enema_town. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-name-for-a-city-of-merpeople-thoughts/565112.md?page=2)