List of Philippine city name etymologies

The more than 120 cities in the Philippines as of 2010 have taken their names from a variety of languages both indigenous (Austronesian) and foreign (mostly Spanish). The majority of Philippine cities derive their names from the major regional languages where they are located including Tagalog (Filipino), Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Bicolano, Kapampangan and Pangasinense. They are written using Spanish orthography in most cases, but a few have also retained their indigenous spellings. The names of thirty-six cities derive exclusively from the Spanish language while at least three have taken their names from the old Sanskrit language.

Of the 120 cities, fourteen are named in honor of an individual while ten are named after saints.

City names

City nameProvinceName origin
AlaminosPangasinanJuan Alaminos y Vivar, Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines.
AngelesPampangaa contraction of its original Spanish name El Pueblo de los Angeles which means "The Town of Angels."
AntipoloRizalHispanicized form of the Tagalog phrase ang tipolo which means "the breadfruit" in reference to the tree that grew abundantly in the city.
BacolodNegros OccidentalHispanicized form of bakolod, an old Hiligaynon word for "hill" in reference to the hilly area in the city that is now the barangay of Granada.
BagoNegros Occidentalfrom bago-bago, a local shrub.
BaguioBenguetHispanicized corruption of the Ibaloi word bagiw which means "moss."
BaisNegros OrientalCebuano for "large, edible fresh-water eel."
BalangaBataanPampango for "clay pot."
BatangasBatangasfrom batang, Tagalog for "log", in reference to the trunks of logged trees that used to be floated down the Calumpang River which runs through the city.
BayawanNegros Orientalfrom bayaw, a Cebuano word which means "to hoist" or "to elevate."[1]
BiñanLagunaHispanicized corruption of binyagan, Tagalog for "baptismal place."
BisligSurigao del Surfrom bizlin, an ancient gold currency.
ButuanAgusan del Nortefrom batuan, a Visayan sour fruit.
CabanatuanNueva Ecijafrom banatu, a sturdy vine that grew along the swampy banks of Rio Grande de Pampanga.[2]
CabuyaoLagunafrom cabuyao, common name for Citrus macroptera, a species of wild orange
CadizNegros Occidentalthe Spanish city of Cádiz.[3]
Cagayan de OroMisamis OrientalCagayan, the Philippine province in northern Luzon, and the Spanish phrase de oro which means "of gold."
CalambaLagunaHispanicized corruption of kalan-banga, Tagalog for "clay jar."
CalapanMindoro OrientalHispanicized form of the old Tagalog word kalapang which means "branch."[4]
CalbayogSamarfrom bayog, a Visayan word for the "Pterospermum diversifolium" tree that grew in abundance in the city.[5]
CaloocanMetro ManilaHispanicized form of the Tagalog root word lo-ok; kalook-lookan (or kaloob-looban) which means "innermost area."
CandonIlocos Surfrom kandung, an Ilocano sandalwood tree believed to be extinct; or the Spanish municipality of Candón in Huelva, Andalucia.
CanlaonNegros OrientalKanlaon Volcano.
CauayanIsabelaHispanicized form of kawayan, Tagalog for "bamboo."
CaviteCaviteHispanicized form of kawit or corruption of kalawit, Tagalog words for "hook," in reference to the small hook-shaped peninsula jutting into Manila Bay.
CebuCebuHispanicized corruption of sugbu, Cebuano for "to walk on shallow waters," referring to the shallows through which one had to wade in order to reach dry land from the port of the city.
CotabatoMaguindanaoHispanicized form of kuta wato, Maguindanao for "stone fort."
DagupanPangasinanfrom pandaragupan, a Pangasinense word which means "gathering place", due to the city's history as a market center.[6]
DanaoCebuHispanicized form of danawan, a Cebuano word for "small lake."[7]
DapitanZamboanga del NorteCebuano for "to invite."[8]
DasmariñasCaviteGómez Pérez Dasmariñas, the seventh Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines.
DavaoDavao del SurHispanicized form of dawaw, a Guiangan name for the Davao River.
DigosDavao del SurHispanicized corruption of padigus, a Lumad word which means "to take a bath" in reference to the Digos River.
DipologZamboanga del Nortefrom dipag, Subanon for "across the river."
DumagueteNegros Orientalfrom dagit, a Cebuano word which means "to snatch", in reference to the frequent marauding attacks of pirates in the past and the city's power to charm and keep tourists and visitors.
EscalanteNegros Occidentalthe Spanish municipality of Escalante.[9]
Gapan Nueva Ecija from gapang, a Tagalog word which means "crawl."
General SantosSouth CotabatoPaulino Santos, Filipino Commanding General of the Philippine Army.
GingoogMisamis OrientalHispanicized form of hingoog, a Manobo word which means "good luck."
HimamaylanNegros Occidentalfrom hima babaylan, a Hiligaynon phrase which means "foot doctor."
IliganLanao del NorteHigaonon for "fortress".
IloiloIloiloHispanicized corruption of irong-irong, Hiligaynon for "nose-like," referring to the shape of the delta formed by what are now called the Iloilo and Salog Rivers.
IrigaCamarines Surfrom i raga, a Bicolano phrase which means "there is land."
IsabelaBasilanIsabella II, Queen of Spain.
KabankalanNegros Occidentalfrom bangkal, a Philippine Leichhard tree.
KidapawanCotabatofrom tida pawan, a Manobo phrase which means "highland spring".
KoronadalSouth Cotabatofrom koron nadal, a B'laan phrase which means "grass plain."
La CarlotaNegros Occidentalthe Spanish municipality of La Carlota.
LaoagIlocos NorteIlocano for "light or clarity."
Lapu-LapuCebuLapu-Lapu, the ancient ruler of Mactan.
Las PiñasMetro ManilaSpanish for "The Pineapples"; the city's old name however is "Las Peñas" meaning "The Rocks".[10]
LegazpiAlbayMiguel López de Legazpi, the first Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines.
LigaoAlbayfrom ticao, a Bicolano word for a tree with poisonous leaves.
LipaBatangasfrom lipa, a Philippine linden tree.
LucenaQuezonThe Spanish municipality of Lucena.[11]
MaasinSouthern LeyteCebuano for "salty."
MakatiMetro Manilafrom kumakati, Tagalog for "ebbing tide"; shortened and Filipinized form of its original Spanish name "San Pedro de Macati."
MalaybalayBukidnonfrom a Cebuano phrase which means "house of the Malays".
MalolosBulacanfrom paluslos, a Kapampangan word which means "downstream" in reference to the Calumpit River.
MandaluyongMetro Manilafrom daluyong, Tagalog for "big waves from the sea"; the city's original name is San Felipe Neri.
MandaueCebuHispanicized form of mantawi, a Cebuano variety of vine.[12]
ManilaMetro ManilaHispanicized corruption of the Tagalog-Sanskrit phrase may nila which means "there is nila" (indigo tree in Sanskrit) referring to the prevalence of the tree.
MarawiLanao del Surfrom rawi, a Maranao word which means "reclining" in reference to the lilies that bend northward on the banks of the mouth of the Agus River.
MarikinaMetro ManilaFélix Berenguer de Marquina, the Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines.
MasbateMasbateHispanicized corruption of masabat, Bicolano for "to meet along the way," referring to the strategic position of the city within Philippine maritime trade routes.
MeycauayanBulacanHispanicized form of the Tagalog phrase may kawayan meaning "a place full of bamboos."
MuntinlupaMetro Manilamunting lupa, Tagalog for "small land."
MuñozNueva EcijaFrancisco Muñoz, Spanish politician and former gobernadorcillo of Nueva Ecija.[13]
NagaCamarines SurBicolano for narra, a type of rosewood tree.
NagaCebuCebuano for the narra tree.
NavotasMetro ManilaHispanicized form of the Tagalog word nabutas which means "breached" or "pierced through" in reference to the formation of the Navotas River.
OlongapoZambalesHispanicized corruption of olo nin apo, a Zambal phrase which means "head of the elder."
OrmocLeyteHispanicized corruption of ogmok, a Cebuano word which means "lowland" or "plain."
OroquietaMisamis Occidentalthe barrio of Oroquieta in the district of Villaverde in Madrid, Spain.
OzamizMisamis OccidentalJosé Ozámiz, a Filipino politician from Mindanao.
PagadianZamboanga del Surfrom padian, an Iranun word for "market."
PalayanNueva EcijaTagalog for "rice field."
PanaboDavao del Nortefrom taboan, a Cebuano word which means "marketplace."
ParañaqueMetro ManilaHispanicized corruption of Palanyag, the old Tagalog name of the Parañaque River.
PasayMetro ManilaDayang-dayang Pasay, a Namayan princess. The city's old name is Pineda, after Spanish horticulturist Cornelio Pineda.
PasigMetro Manilafrom pasi, a Sanskrit word meaning "riverbank."
PassiIloilofrom passis, a Kinaray-a word which means "unhusked rice."
Puerto PrincesaPalawana contraction of its original Spanish name Puerto de la Princesa which means "Port of the Princess" named after Princess Eulalia of Spain.[14]
QuezonMetro ManilaManuel Luis Quezon, the second president of the Philippines.
RoxasCapizManuel Acuña Roxas, the fifth president of the Philippines.
SagayNegros Occidentalfrom sigay, a Hiligaynon word for "shell."
SamalDavao del NorteSama, an indigenous ethnic group in Mindanao.
San CarlosNegros OccidentalSaint Charles Borromeo.
San CarlosPangasinanSaint Charles Borromeo.
San FernandoLa UnionSaint Ferdinand, King of Spain.
San FernandoPampangaSaint Ferdinand, King of Spain.
San JoseNueva EcijaSaint Joseph
San Jose del MonteBulacanSaint Joseph of the Mountain.
San JuanMetro ManilaSaint John the Baptist; the city's longer official name is San Juan del Monte, Spanish for "Saint John of the Mountain."
San PabloLagunaSaint Paul the First Hermit.
Santa RosaLagunaSaint Rose of Lima.
SantiagoIsabelaSaint James the Apostle.
SilayNegros Occidentalfrom kansilay, a local Philippine tree.
SipalayNegros OccidentalSuludnon for "there is rice"[15]
SorsogonSorsogonHispanicized form of sogsogon, a Bicolano verb meaning "to continuously follow a course, such as a trail or a river."
SurigaoSurigao del NorteHispanicized corruption of suligan, a Manobo word for "where there is sulig," a species of fish.
TabacoAlbaySpanish for "tobacco."
TaclobanLeyteHispanicized corruption of tarakluban, a Waray-Waray word which means "to catch fish."
TacurongSultan KudaratHispanicized corruption of talakudong, a Maguindanao word which means a traditional "head covering" or "hat."
TagaytayCaviteTagalog for "ridge".
TagbilaranBoholfrom tagubilaan, a Boholano phrase which means "to hide from the Moros."[16]
TaguigMetro ManilaHispanicized form of the Tagalog word taga-giik meaning "rice thresher."
TagumDavao del Nortefrom magugpo, a Mandaya word which means "tall tree."
TalisayCebufrom talisay, a Visayan variety of Indian almond tree.
TalisayNegros Occidentalfrom talisay, a Visayan variety of Indian almond tree.
TanauanBatangasHispanicized form of the Tagalog word tanawan which means "vista" or "view."
TangubMisamis Occidentalfrom tangkob, a Subanon word which means "rice basket."[17]
TanjayNegros OrientalHispanicized corruption of taytay, a Cebuano word which means "bamboo bridge."[18]
TarlacTarlacHispanicized rendering of tarlak, Aeta term for a certain grass related to talahib (cogon) and tanglar (Zambal for lemongrass).
TayabasQuezonfrom bayabas, a Tagalog word for the "guava" fruit.[19]
ToledoCebuthe Spanish city of Toledo.
Trece MartiresCaviteSpanish for "thirteen martyrs." The city was named in honor of the Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite.
TuguegaraoCagayanHispanicized form of the Ibanag phrase tuggui gari yaw meaning "this used to be fire."
UrdanetaPangasinanAndrés de Urdaneta, Spanish friar, circumnavigator and explorer.
ValenciaBukidnonNamed by the first local Barrio school teacher in the village, who hailed from Valencia, Bohol.
ValenzuelaMetro ManilaPío Valenzuela, a Filipino patriot.
VictoriasNegros Occidentalfrom Nuestra Señora de las Victorias, Spanish for "Our Lady of Victories".
ViganIlocos SurHispanicization of bî-gán (美岸), Hokkien for "beautiful shore".
ZamboangaZamboanga del SurHispanicized form of samboangan, Sinama for "anchorage," or literally, "place of mooring poles," referring to the settlement and port town at the southern tip of Mindanao's western peninsula.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Cultural Heritage Archived 2010-06-16 at the Wayback Machine. City Government of Bayawan. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  2. ↑ Our History City Government of Cabanatuan. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  3. ↑ Brief History Archived 2012-02-17 at the Wayback Machine. City Government of Cadiz. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  4. ↑ General Information Archived 2011-02-17 at the Wayback Machine. City Government of Calapan. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  5. ↑ Calbayog Archived 2012-07-24 at Archive.is City Government of Calbayog. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  6. ↑ History Part I - Spanish Rule Archived 2010-04-03 at the Wayback Machine. Dagupan.com. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  7. ↑ Danao City Brief History Archived 2003-05-14 at Archive.is Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  8. ↑ Dapitan History Dapitan.com. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  9. ↑ Escalante City History Negros Occidental Provincial Government. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  10. ↑ History LasPinas.com. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  11. ↑ About Lucena Archived 2012-05-02 at the Wayback Machine. Quezon Provincial Government. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  12. ↑ History of Mandaue City Archived 2012-01-22 at the Wayback Machine. City Government of Mandaue. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  13. ↑ All About Science City of Muñoz City Government of Muñoz. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  14. ↑ History of Puerto Princesa Puerto Princesa Resorts. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  15. ↑ About City of Sipalay Archived 2012-03-02 at the Wayback Machine. City Government of Sipalay. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  16. ↑ Tagbilaran City General Info Archived 2012-09-13 at Archive.is City Government of Tagbilaran. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  17. ↑ City of Tangub History Archived 2012-05-11 at the Wayback Machine. City Government of Tangub. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  18. ↑ Tanjay History Retraced Timoteo S. Oracion. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  19. ↑ Tayabas Brief History Archived 2012-09-03 at Archive.is ExploreQuezon.com. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
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