List of Philippine city name etymologies

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The more than 140 cities in the Philippines as of 2022 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 spoken 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-nine cities derive exclusively from the Spanish language while at least three have taken their names from the old Sanskrit language.

Contents

Of the 149 cities, sixteen are named in honor of an individual while twelve are named after saints.

City names

City nameProvinceName origin
Alaminos Pangasinan Juan Alaminos y Vivar, Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines.
Angeles nonea contraction of its original Spanish name El Pueblo de los Ángeles which means "The Town of Angels."
Antipolo Rizal Hispanicized form of the Tagalog phrase ang tipolo which means "the breadfruit", the tree that grew abundantly in the area.
Bacolod none Hispanicized 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.
Bacoor Cavite Hispanicized form of bacood, derived from the Tagalog word which means "fence." [1]
Bago Negros Occidental from bago-bago, a local shrub.
Baguio none Hispanicized corruption of the Ibaloi word bagiw which means "moss."
Bais Negros Oriental Cebuano for "large, edible fresh-water eel."
Balanga Bataan Pampango for "clay pot."
Baliwag Bulacan Old Kapampangan word for "untouched."
Batac Ilocos Norte Multiple origins, however, it was believed that the place gets its name from batak, an Ilocano word which means "pull", in reference to pulling efforts together or the assistance given to another who is in need of help. Hence, the name must have been derived from the common trait of the people who are ever ready to extend a helping hand to anybody. [2]
Batangas Batangas from 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.
Bayawan Negros Oriental from bayaw, a Cebuano word which means "to hoist" or "to elevate." [3]
Baybay Leyte Cebuano word for "shore." [4]
Bayugan Agusan del Sur Manobo word for "pathway" or from bayug, the local name for bayur tree. [5]
Biñan Laguna Hispanicized corruption of binyagan, Tagalog for "baptismal place."
Bislig Surigao del Sur from bizlin, an ancient gold currency.
Bogo Cebu from bogo , an incense tree. [6]
Borongan Eastern Samar from borong, a Waray word for "fog", referring to the heavy fog that once covered the place. [7]
Butuan nonefrom batuan , a Visayan sour fruit.
Cabadbaran Agusan del Norte from badbad, a Cebuano word which means "to untie." [8]
Cabanatuan Nueva Ecija from banatu, a sturdy vine that grew along the swampy banks of Rio Grande de Pampanga. [9]
Cabuyao Laguna from cabuyao, common name for Citrus macroptera , a species of wild orange
Cadiz Negros Occidental the Spanish city of Cádiz . [10]
Cagayan de Oro none Cagayan , the Philippine province in northern Luzon, and the Spanish phrase de oro which means "of gold."
Calaca Batangas from the roofs of the houses made of bamboos halves arranged over top of one another.
Calamba Laguna Hispanicized corruption of kalan-bangá, Tagalog for "clay stove."
Calapan Mindoro Oriental Hispanicized form of the old Tagalog word kalapang which means "branch." [11]
Calbayog Samar from bayog, a Visayan name for the Pterospermum diversifolium tree that grew in abundance in the city. [12]
Caloocan none Hispanicized form of the Tagalog root word lo-ok; kalook-lookan (or kaloob-looban) which means "innermost area."
Candon Ilocos Sur the Spanish municipality of Candón in Huelva, Andalucia; or kandung , an Ilocano sandalwood tree believed to be extinct.
Canlaon Negros Oriental Kanlaon Volcano.
Carcar Cebu the Spanish municipality of Cárcar . [13]
Carmona Cavite the Spanish municipality of Carmona .
Catbalogan Samar from balaug, a type of shrub that used to thrive along the seashore and mouth of the Antiao River. [14]
Cauayan Isabela Hispanicized form of kawayan, Tagalog for "bamboo."
Cavite City Cavite Hispanicized form of kawit or corruption of kalawit, Tagalog words for "hook", in reference to the small hook-shaped peninsula jutting into Manila Bay.
Cebu City none Hispanicized 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.
Cotabato City none Hispanicized form of kuta wato, Maguindanao (from Malay "Kota Batu") for "stone fort."
Dagupan nonefrom pandaragupan, a Pangasinense word which means "gathering place", due to the city's history as a market town. [15]
Danao Cebu Hispanicized form of danawan, a Cebuano word for "small lake." [16]
Dapitan Zamboanga del Norte from dapit, Cebuano for "to invite." [17]
Dasmariñas Cavite Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas , the seventh Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines.
Davao City none Hispanicized form of dawaw, a Guiangan name for the Davao River.
Digos Davao del Sur Hispanicized corruption of padigus, a Lumad word which means "to take a bath" in reference to the Digos River.
Dipolog Zamboanga del Norte from dipag, Subanon for "across the river."
Dumaguete Negros Oriental from 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.
El Salvador Misamis Oriental Spanish for "The Saviour." [18]
Escalante Negros Occidental the Spanish municipality of Escalante . [19]
Gapan Nueva Ecija from gapang, a Tagalog word which means "crawl."
General Santos none Paulino Santos , Filipino Commanding General of the Philippine Army.
General Trias Cavite Mariano Trías , Filipino revolutionary and politician.
Gingoog Misamis Oriental Hispanicized form of hingoog, a Manobo word which means "good luck."
Guihulngan Negros Oriental from guihulugan, Cebuano for "a place where something was dropped." [20]
Himamaylan Negros Occidental from hima babaylan, a Hiligaynon phrase which means "foot doctor."
Ilagan noneThe reverse of the Gaddang word nagali which means "transferred."
Iligan none Higaonon for "fortress".
Iloilo City none Hispanicized corruption of irong-irong, Hiligaynon for "nose-like", referring to the shape of the delta formed by what are now the Iloilo and Salog Rivers.
Imus Cavite Old Tagalog word for "a piece of land cutting into the junction of two rivers."
Iriga Camarines Sur from i raga, a Bicolano phrase which means "there is land."
Isabela Basilan Isabella II , Queen of Spain.
Kabankalan Negros Occidental from bangkal , a Philippine Leichhard tree.
Kidapawan Cotabato from tida pawan, a Manobo phrase which means "highland spring".
Koronadal South Cotabato from koron nadal, a B'laan phrase which means "grass plain."
La Carlota Negros Occidental the Spanish municipality of La Carlota .
Lamitan Basilan from lami-lamihan, a Yakan word which means "merry-making." [21]
Laoag Ilocos Norte Ilocano for "light or clarity."
Lapu-Lapu none Lapulapu , the ancient ruler of Mactan.
Las Piñas none Spanish for "The Pineapples"; the city's old name however is "Las Peñas" meaning "The Rocks". [22]
Legazpi Albay Miguel López de Legazpi , the first Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines.
Ligao Albay from ticao, a Bicolano word for a tree with poisonous leaves.
Lipa Batangas from lipa , a Philippine linden tree.
Lucena noneThe Spanish municipality of Lucena . [23]
Maasin Southern Leyte Cebuano for "salty."
Mabalacat Pampanga from balakat , a species of tree endemic to the Philippines. [24]
Makati nonefrom kumakati, Tagalog for "ebbing tide"; shortened and Filipinized form of its original Spanish name "San Pedro de Macati."
Malabon nonefrom tambobong, which denotes a place full of labóng (bamboo shoots)
Malaybalay Bukidnon from a Cebuano phrase which means "house of the Malays ".
Malolos Bulacan from paluslos, a Kapampangan word which means "downstream" in relation to the Calumpit River.
Mandaluyong nonefrom daluyong, Tagalog for "big waves from the sea"; the city's original name was San Felipe Neri.
Mandaue Cebu Hispanicized form of mantawi, a Cebuano variety of vine. [25]
Manila none Hispanicized corruption of the Tagalog-Sanskrit phrase may nila which means "there is nila" (indigo tree in Sanskrit) referring to the prevalence of the tree.
Marawi Lanao del Sur from 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.
Marikina none Félix Berenguer de Marquina , the Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines.
Masbate Masbate Hispanicized corruption of masabat, Bicolano for "to meet along the way", referring to the strategic position of the city within Philippine maritime trade routes.
Mati Davao Oriental from maa-ti, a Mandaya word which means to "dry quickly", referring to the Mati Creek which dries up quickly even after a heavy rain. [26]
Meycauayan Bulacan Hispanicized form of the Tagalog phrase may kawayan meaning "a place full of bamboos."
Muntinlupa noneMuntíng lupà, Tagalog for "small land."
Muñoz Nueva Ecija Francisco Muñoz, Spanish politician and former gobernadorcillo of Nueva Ecija. [27]
Naga Camarines Sur Bicolano for narra , a type of rosewood tree.
Naga Cebu Cebuano for the narra tree.
Navotas none Hispanicized form of the Tagalog word nabutas which means "breached" or "pierced through" in reference to the formation of the Navotas River.
Olongapo none Hispanicized corruption of olo nin apo, a Zambal phrase which means "head of the elder."
Ormoc none Hispanicized corruption of ogmok, a Cebuano word which means "lowland" or "plain."
Oroquieta Misamis Occidental the barrio of Oroquieta in the district of Villaverde in Madrid, Spain.
Ozamiz Misamis Occidental José Ozámiz , a Filipino politician from Mindanao.
Pagadian Zamboanga del Sur from padian, an Iranun word for "market."
Palayan Nueva Ecija Tagalog for "rice field."
Panabo Davao del Norte from taboan, a Cebuano word which means "marketplace."
Parañaque none Hispanicized corruption of Palanyag, the old Tagalog name of the Parañaque River.
Pasay noneDayang-dayang Pasay, a Namayan princess. The city's old name was Pineda, after Spanish horticulturist Cornelio Pineda.
Pasig nonean archaic Tagalog word referring to the shore. Compare "dalampasigan", "pasigan", or Malay "pasir" ("sand")
Passi Iloilo from passis, a Kinaray-a word which means "unhusked rice."
Puerto Princesa nonea contraction of its original Spanish name Puerto de la Princesa which means "Port of the Princess" named after Princess Eulalia of Spain. [28]
Quezon City none Manuel Luis Quezon , the second president of the Philippines.
Roxas Capiz Manuel Acuña Roxas , the fifth president of the Philippines.
Sagay Negros Occidental from sigay, a Hiligaynon word for "shell."
Samal Davao del Norte Sama , an indigenous ethnic group in Mindanao.
San Carlos Negros Occidental Saint Charles Borromeo .
San Carlos Pangasinan named after Charles III of Spain , who ordered Spanish forces to raze the town of Binalatongan (its former name) to the ground.
San Fernando La Union Saint Ferdinand , King of Spain.
San Fernando Pampanga Saint Ferdinand , King of Spain.
San Jose Nueva Ecija Saint Joseph
San Jose del Monte Bulacan Saint Joseph of the Mountain.
San Juan none Saint John the Baptist ; the city's longer official name is San Juan del Monte, Spanish for "Saint John of the Mountain."
San Pablo Laguna Saint Paul the First Hermit .
San Pedro Laguna Saint Peter, the Apostle
Santa Rosa Laguna Saint Rose of Lima .
Santiago none Saint James the Apostle .
Santo Tomas Batangas Saint Thomas Aquinas
Silay Negros Occidental from kansilay , a local Philippine tree.
Sipalay Negros Occidental Suludnon for "there is rice" [29]
Sorsogon City Sorsogon Hispanicized form of sogsogon, a Bicolano verb meaning "to continuously follow a course, such as a trail or a river."
Surigao Surigao del Norte Hispanicized corruption of suligan, a Manobo word for "where there is sulig", a species of fish.
Tabaco Albay from tabak ko, Bikol for "bolo"
Tabuk Kalinga from tobog, Ilocano for "living stream." [30]
Tacloban none Hispanicized corruption of tarakluban, a Waray-Waray word which means "to catch fish."
Tacurong Sultan Kudarat Hispanicized corruption of talakudong, a Maguindanao word which means a traditional "head covering" or "hat."
Tagaytay Cavite Tagalog for "ridge".
Tagbilaran Bohol from tagubilaan, a Boholano phrase which means "to hide from the Moros." [31]
Taguig none Hispanicized form of the Tagalog word taga-giik meaning "rice thresher."
Tagum Davao del Norte from magugpo, a Mandaya word which means "tall tree."
Talisay Cebu from talisay , a Visayan variety of Indian almond tree.
Talisay Negros Occidental from talisay , a Visayan variety of Indian almond tree.
Tanauan Batangas Hispanicized form of the Tagalog word tanawan which means "vista" or "view."
Tandag Surigao del Sur from tangad, Cebuano for lemongrass.
Tangub Misamis Occidental from tangkob, a Subanon word which means "rice basket." [32]
Tanjay Negros Oriental Hispanicized corruption of taytay, a Cebuano word which means "bamboo bridge." [33]
Tarlac City Tarlac Hispanicized rendering of tarlak, Aeta term for a certain grass related to talahib (cogon) and tanglar (Zambal for lemongrass).
Tayabas Quezon from bayabas, a Tagalog word for the "guava" fruit. [34]
Toledo Cebu the Spanish city of Toledo .
Trece Martires Cavite Spanish for "thirteen martyrs." The city was named in honor of the Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite.
Tuguegarao Cagayan Hispanicized form of the Ibanag phrase tuggui gari yaw meaning "this used to be fire."
Urdaneta Pangasinan Andrés de Urdaneta , Spanish friar, circumnavigator and explorer.
Valencia Bukidnon Named by the first local Barrio school teacher in the village, who hailed from Valencia, Bohol.
Valenzuela none Pío Valenzuela, a Filipino patriot.
Victorias Negros Occidental from Nuestra Señora de las Victorias, Spanish for "Our Lady of Victories".
Vigan Ilocos Sur Hispanicization of bî-gán (美岸), Hokkien for "beautiful shore".
Zamboanga City none Hispanicized 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

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References

  1. ↑ "History Background of Bacoor". bacoor.gov.ph. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Brief Historical Background". batac.gov.ph. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  3. ↑ Cultural Heritage Archived June 16, 2010, at the Wayback Machine City Government of Bayawan. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Baybay: beach, heritage and adventure". BusinessWorld. January 29, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  5. ↑ "City of Bayugan". Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  6. ↑ "City Profile". City Government of Bogo. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Borongan". Provincial Government of Eastern Samar. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  8. ↑ "History". Provincial Government of Agusan del Norte. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  9. ↑ Our History City Government of Cabanatuan. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  10. ↑ Brief History Archived February 17, 2012, at the Wayback Machine City Government of Cadiz. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  11. ↑ General Information Archived February 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine City Government of Calapan. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  12. ↑ Calbayog Archived July 24, 2012, at archive.today City Government of Calbayog. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Carcar Heritage City". The Manila Times. May 2, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Local Heritage". City Government of Catbalogan. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  15. ↑ History Part I – Spanish Rule Archived April 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Dagupan.com. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  16. ↑ Danao City Brief History Archived May 14, 2003, at archive.today Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  17. ↑ Dapitan History Dapitan.com. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  18. ↑ "History of El Salvador". City Government of El Salvador. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  19. ↑ Escalante City History Negros Occidental Provincial Government. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  20. ↑ "City Government". City Government of Guihulngan. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Lamitan comes out of the shadows". The Philippine Star. June 24, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  22. ↑ History LasPinas.com. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  23. ↑ About Lucena Archived May 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Quezon Provincial Government. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  24. ↑ "Municipality of Mabalacat". Provincial Government of Pampanga. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  25. ↑ History of Mandaue City Archived January 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine City Government of Mandaue. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  26. ↑ "The Town History of Mati". City Government of Mati. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  27. ↑ All About Science City of Muñoz City Government of Muñoz. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  28. ↑ History of Puerto Princesa Puerto Princesa Resorts. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  29. ↑ About City of Sipalay Archived March 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine City Government of Sipalay. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  30. ↑ Espiritu, E.V. (January 4, 2015). "Remote, fledgling city marshals resources to build hotel industry". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  31. ↑ Tagbilaran City General Info Archived September 13, 2012, at archive.today City Government of Tagbilaran. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  32. ↑ City of Tangub History Archived May 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine City Government of Tangub. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  33. ↑ Tanjay History Retraced Timoteo S. Oracion. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  34. ↑ Tayabas Brief History Archived September 3, 2012, at archive.today ExploreQuezon.com. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
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