Naming and renaming of streets is quite a vast subject! I wasn't aware of that till recently when we were faced with a 'hot' controversy regarding the naming of a street after a living person.
Usually, streets are named in honor of distinguished people after their death. However, as it happens with everything else, pressure is present here too: pressure from politicians and from ethnical groups that wish to make sure they're not forgotten, ignored, or discriminated. So, naming after a living person is probably no longer a taboo, but not popular either. (I myself am against naming after a living person).
Streets/roads are often named after trees (especially in rural areas), vital occupations and professions, famous institutions, historical/archeological sites and events. Still, naming after human figures is the most popular. The emphasis used to be on heads of state, scientists, writers, explorers, war heroes. Nowadays, there's a tendency to include more celebrities from the culturally entertaining world (singers, composers, actors etc...).
The city or district council is responsible for naming streets and placing adequate signage. I guess it's quite a 'headache': debates on the various proposals, decisions on the signs to be displayed, dealing with opposition of residents or other factors of interest in the respective area etc.. Well, someone has to do it, and it's the local authorities' doing from start to finish.
Our standard sign is written in two languages: Hebrew and Arabic, and employ three scripts: hebrew, arabic, latin.
Here's an example: Bialik street sign.( Bialik was a famous israeli poet).
Your post made me look up what the most common street name in the UK is ... it turns out it is High Street :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Well, High Street in the UK is commonly given to a street where there are stores and various businesses.
DeleteTrees, occupations, poets, sporting and musical heroes are fine examples of names that won't make people upset. But imagine naming a street after a contentious politician who half the community dislikes - even selling a house there would be problematic.
ReplyDeleteRight. Naming can be quite tricky as it is. No need to complicate things by naming after a politician and especially a living one.
DeleteMy husband was on a council which tried to change street names in the town to names of some of the first families who settled there. It did not go over well!
ReplyDeleteI can well imagine that. Naming is a subject that arouses strong feelings, sometimes antagonistic ones. It is not easy for those on the council who have to take decisions.
DeleteInteresting topic
ReplyDeleteIndeed. I agree with you, Christine.
DeleteWho would have thought this would be so difficult? In the US we do have a lot of tree streets. I agree with you that it's not good to use a living person to name a street after.
ReplyDeleteNaming afer people could be problematic. Streets with tree names sound lovely and don't cause any controversy.
DeleteWe have a few names that most towns want to name a street. The trouble is the streets already have a name and many don't want to change the name. In the states, if you have two people, you could have five or six opinions. We are terrible. lol
ReplyDeleteYes, we are - more opinions than people. Anyway, renaming a street can cause a lot of controversy.
DeleteHere in Canada there is great disagreement over place names using historical figures. It seems every one has something shameful in their past, and that discredits them in modern society. I say that sticking to trees and plants is a good idea.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely with you on this. Naming after trees and plants is a good idea!
DeleteI am opposed to naming streets after living people, so I agree with you. Streets can show us our history sometimes. Many streets in US cities are named after Presidents. One area street is Church Street and another is Two Bar, I think named for churches and bars.
ReplyDeleteA street named after a church is usually close to the area where the church is located.
DeleteInteresting topic Duta. Difficult to say the least keeping everyone happy with a name of a new street.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Margaret. It's not easy to please everyone; this applies to streets naming too.
DeleteI agree naming the living seems inappropriate, you sometimes find streetnames indicate the history of an area, what it was used for, the trade of the area etc. I prefer names that have some relevance in that way.
ReplyDeleteMost people look for and usually accept this kind of relevance you've mentioned.
DeleteWhen we lived in VA, our home was near the intersection of Church & Maple St and there was a church on the corner of one. Here in NH, the mill apts are on the corner of Factory and Water St (bordering the Nashua River).
ReplyDeleteSo, it appears that the environment of your former home (church, tree), and of the present home (factory, water) had the right 'ingredients' for naming.
DeleteI haven't thought of this topic in a while. Although, we do have some streets renamed from fallen heroes. Most had actually grown up on the street that is renamed. Although, I am not sure how they go about doing it here. I can see it being a difficult discussion (especially if they are living, but I am sure our mayor plans on something being named after him). Traveling, It seems I have passed some ridiculous names for some roads. It's almost like they are creating tongue twisters in Kansas and Oklahoma. Oh, and thank you for your comments too.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't a topic we usually pay much attention to. We take street names for granted. And then, some controversy arises, we are drawn into it, and become aware of things.
DeleteMost roads around here are very practically named after the area they pass through or go to. Sometimes one will have the name of the original farmers who lived along that road. There's a Robert Street in town, I've often wondered who Robert was.
ReplyDeleteThat's rather strange , using the first name only (Robert). Usually the full name is mentioned , or as in the sign displayed in my post , the last name (Bialik) which is not very common, the first name being written in hebrew only and in small print.
DeleteRenaming streets or buildings is not an easy task and can be quite expensive.
ReplyDeleteDundas Street is a very well-known street. I don’t think there is a single person who doesn’t know about it. Some want to rename it. “This past summer, 228 years after the fact, Toronto City Council voted to rename Dundas Street, citing its namesake’s role in delaying the abolition of the slave trade in the British empire by 15 years.” Henry Dundas was a controversial Scottish lawyer and politician. Renaming this street could cost one of the neighbouring cities more than $1.8 million.
Interesting story! It seems there was good reason to rename the street; however, the price should bring forth other ideas.
DeleteInteresting topic. I think it is not an easy task to name or to change the name of streets.
ReplyDeleteAgree to both your views, Nancy: it's interesting , yet not simple to carry it out.
DeleteIn truth, I've not thought about it before...but I don't see any harm in naming streets, or areas, for that matter, after living persons. If they've done good in helping others, why not?
ReplyDeleteThe thing is there might be controversy as to those who've done good.
DeleteInteresting topic !
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you think so, ashok.
DeleteIn my neck of the woods, it's not uncommon to name after living people. Don't think it ever has been. If you look at old maps you'll see lanes, street etc named after the person who farmed that piece of land. Then you have the typical High Street, Main Street, Broad Street. I think almost all towns/cities have those streets. Then newer streets tend to be named after someone famous. Like Woody Hayes Drive (former Ohio State Football Coach), Jack Nicholas Way (Famous golfer from here, still living).
ReplyDeleteYou seem to know a lot about street naming in your area, Sandy!
DeleteIn our area, the builders of subdivisions often name streets after themselves or family members first names.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't look as though things here are regulated by the authorities.
Deletemy street is called Nowa. I am curious if this if truly named after the fact, that it was a first street in our town:)
ReplyDelete'Nowa' in polish means 'new', so a first street is also a new street. Hence the name.
DeleteWe have streets named after some living and some famous deceased people. But a lot of the names are just flowers, plants, nuts, food. Some of these street names sound made up at times.
ReplyDeleteSeems like a varied mixture of names. As long as the residents are happy and there are no complaints - all is good.
DeleteBoa noite. Os nomes de ruas são detalhes que muitas vezes não prestamos atenção. Uma excelente quarta-feira.
ReplyDeleteCorrect. We take them for granted.
DeleteYou are very acute. Naming a street a flower is a matter of sense but naming after a person is a judgement of value. Value would change in the stream of time.
ReplyDeleteWell put! Naming after a flower appeals to the senses. naming after a person appeals to our judgement of value.
DeleteI hate it when they rename streets, even when it is someone I like or feel might deserve it. It's just frustrating -- especially when you've lived in a city all your life and now a street you've known forever as one thing becomes another! And when you get into a living person -- that just seems unwise and way too political!
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to thank you for your visits and lovely comments, since I can't reply directly. They always mean a great deal. Have a lovely week!
You're not alone. I also find renaming frustrating.
DeleteAs for your 'thank' words - You're welcome. It's a pleasure for me to place a comment on your post.
Hola, Duta.
ReplyDeleteTotalmente de acuerdo contigo, en que esas nomenclaturas de las calles deben de ser a título póstumo, en función de los méritos realizados en vida.
Por que si no vamos a empezar a ver, calles con nombres de poderosos económicamente, porque el dinero lo puede todo, o de políticos en activos con el fin de ser recordados de forma perpetua, porque su ego se lo pide.
Gracias por traer a debate temas tan actuales e interesantes.
Que tengas un buen día, amiga.
Thank you for reading, commenting, and agreeing with my expressed opinion, Manuel.
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