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Before becoming President, General Andrew Jackson, along with two other individuals, founded Memphis, Tennessee, in 1819. He chose the name Memphis, inspired by the ancient capital of Egypt, known for its significant location on the Nile River Delta. Similarly, the American Memphis was situated on the delta of the Mississippi River, which was often called “the American Nile” due to its importance and geographical resemblance.

The name Los Angeles translates to “the angels'' in Spanish. When Spanish colonizers established the settlement in 1781, they initially named it El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula, which translates to "the Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of Porciúncula." Over time, the lengthy name was shortened to Los Angeles, making it easier to reference and remember while still honoring its original dedication.

Philadelphia’s name is derived from the Greek words for love (“phileo”) and brother (“adelphos”), which is why the city is famously known as the “City of Brotherly Love.” William Penn, the founder of Philadelphia, selected this name to embody his vision of a city where people of all religions could coexist peacefully and respectfully with the native Lenape peoples, fostering an environment of mutual respect and harmony.

New York City was originally named New Amsterdam by Dutch settlers in 1624. In 1664, the British conquered the colony and renamed it New York to honor the Duke of York. Interestingly, the city was also called New Orange after the Dutch briefly recaptured it, but this name lasted only a year before the British regained control and reverted the name back to New York, solidifying its identity under British influence.

Columbus, Ohio, is the largest city in the United States named after Christopher Columbus, boasting a population of around 1 million people. Although the city has no direct historical connections to the famous explorer, in 1812, local business owner and politician Joseph Foos successfully campaigned for the city to be named Columbus, favoring this over the other popular choice at the time, Ohio City, thereby ensuring Columbus' lasting legacy in the city's name.

Before Phoenix was officially established in 1868, there was considerable debate about what to name the burgeoning settlement. To its east was a town called Pumpkinville, named for the wild pumpkins that grew abundantly in the area. Some townspeople proposed adopting the name Pumpkinville for the new town to the west, but ultimately, the name Phoenix was chosen. This name symbolized the new settlement’s rebirth from the ruins of ancient Native American civilizations that had existed there centuries earlier.

New Orleans was founded by French colonists in 1718 and named La Nouvelle-Orléans in honor of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, who served as the regent for Louis XV. By 1722, New Orleans had become the capital of France’s Louisiana Territory. This significant status remained until the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, when the United States acquired the territory, including New Orleans, marking a pivotal moment in American history.

Charlotte, North Carolina, owes both its official name and nickname to its namesake, German princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. In 1761, Charlotte married King George III, becoming the Queen Consort of England and Ireland. The city of Charlotte was founded in her honor in 1768, reflecting the colonial practice of naming new settlements after prominent figures from European nobility, thereby cementing its connection to the royal lineage.

The name Minneapolis is a blend of the Sioux word “minne,” meaning water, and the Greek word “polis,” meaning city. Minneapolis, like the state of Minnesota, is renowned for its numerous lakes, including the famous Chain of Lakes, which consists of three interconnected bodies of water that form a popular regional park. This name captures the essence of the city’s abundant water resources and its cultural significance.

Founded in 1837, Atlanta was originally named Marthasville in honor of then-Governor Wilson Lumpkin’s daughter, Martha. Shortly thereafter, the name was changed to Atlanta, a name believed to be derived from its location at the terminus of the Western and Atlantic railroad line. This new name was intended to reflect the city’s growing importance as a transportation hub, symbolizing progress and connectivity.

Detroit’s name comes from the French word “détroit,” meaning strait, reflecting its strategic position along the Detroit River, which serves as a strait connecting Lake Erie to Lake Huron. Known as the historic center of the American automotive industry, Detroit has earned the nickname “the Motor City.” This name highlights its pivotal role in the development and manufacturing of automobiles, shaping its identity and legacy.

Stephen F. Austin, often referred to as “the Father of Texas,” is the namesake of the capital city of Austin. Originally named Waterloo, the city changed its name to Austin in 1839 after becoming the capital of the newly established Republic of Texas. Austin’s contributions to settling thousands of American colonists in Texas and his leadership in the region’s early development earned him this enduring honor.

Baltimore was established in 1729 and named after Cecilius Calvert, the second Irish Baron Baltimore. Calvert, an English nobleman, was the first Proprietor of the Province of Maryland. The name Baltimore itself is an anglicization of the Irish “Baile an Tí Mhóir,” which translates to "town of the big house." This name reflects both the city's colonial heritage and its connection to the Calvert family’s noble lineage.

Montpelier, Vermont, is named after a city of the same name in the south of France (spelled Montpellier with an additional “l”). The Vermont city’s founder, Colonel Jacob Davis, named it after the French city when he settled there in 1787. At the time, France was a crucial ally to the United States during the Revolutionary War, which inspired the choice of the name as a tribute to the friendship between the two nations.

In 1630, Boston was initially named Tremontaine (or Trimount) due to the three large hills that characterized the area’s geography at the time. However, within a few weeks, the settlement’s name was changed to Boston, after the English town from which many of the settlers originated. This naming convention was common in New England, reflecting the settlers’ desire to bring a sense of familiarity and continuity to their new home.

While Washington DC is the most famous U.S. city named after George Washington, it wasn’t the first to bear his name. Washington, Georgia, was established in the early 1770s, about two decades before the nation’s capital was named. President Washington even visited this namesake town in the early 1800s, underscoring its historical significance and connection to the first President of the United States.

The Mayaimi were a Native American tribe that lived around Lake Okeechobee, Florida’s largest lake. When Spanish colonizers arrived in the 16th century, they encountered a village of these Tequesta Native Americans. The name Mayaimi, meaning either “sweet water” or “big water,” referred to their settlement along the banks of what became known as the Miami River, the future site of the city of Miami.

Portlanders can attribute their city’s name to a coin toss in 1845. Settlers Asa Lovejoy and Francis Pettygrove each wanted to name the clearing after their own hometowns — Lovejoy was from Boston, and Pettygrove was from Portland, Maine. They flipped a penny to decide, and Pettygrove won, resulting in the name Portland for the new city.

In 1851, American pioneers arrived at the site that would later become Seattle. Initially, they named it New York, and then New York-Alki, incorporating a Chinook word meaning "by-and-by." Shortly after, the settlement was moved across Elliott Bay and renamed Seattle, an anglicization of the name of the local Duwamish Native American leader, Chief Si'ahl, reflecting the area's native heritage.

Chicago’s name is believed to come from a French rendering of the Algonquin word “shikaakwa,” which refers to the Allium tricoccum plant, commonly known as a ramp or wild garlic. During his travels in 1687, French explorer Robert de LaSalle wrote about visiting a place called “Chicagou,” named for the abundance of garlic growing in the region’s forests, which influenced the city’s eventual name.

Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus was a Roman soldier celebrated for leading his army to victory in the 5th century BCE. In 1783, a group of Revolutionary War officers formed The Society of the Cincinnati, named in his honor. In 1790, Northwestern Territory Governor Arthur St. Clair, a society member, decided to name a new settlement on the Ohio River Cincinnati, recognizing the Roman hero’s legacy and the society’s influence.