List of Philippine city name etymologies

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Cities and municipalities
of the Philippines

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Municipalities

* List of cities and municipalities
* etymologies
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* International relations

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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.

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

## City names

[edit]

City name | Province | Name origin

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Alaminos | Pangasinan | Juan Alaminos y Vivar, Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines.
Angeles | none | a contraction of its original Spanish name El Pueblo de los Ángeles which means "The Town of Angels."
Antipolo | Rizal | named after the tipulo (Philippine Spanish: antipolo), Artocarpus blancoi, a tree with edible fruits related to the breadfruit and the breadnut
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 | named after Bacoor Bay, originally from the Philippine Negrito languages, meaning "circle", referring to the shape of the bay.[1] Another possible origin of the name of Bacoor is from Tagalog bakood for "highlands" or "plateau" (cf. Bacolor and Bacolod).[2]
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.[3]
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."[4]
Baybay | Leyte | Cebuano word for "shore."[5]
Bayugan | Agusan del Sur | Manobo word for "pathway" or from bayug, the local name for bayur tree.[6]
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.[7]
Borongan | Eastern Samar | from borong, a Waray word for "fog", referring to the heavy fog that once covered the place.[8]
Butuan | none | from batuan, a Visayan sour fruit.
Cabadbaran | Agusan del Norte | from badbad, a Cebuano word which means "to untie."[9]
Cabanatuan | Nueva Ecija | from banatu, a sturdy vine that grew along the swampy banks of Rio Grande de Pampanga.[10]
Cabuyao | Laguna | from cabuyao, common name for Citrus macroptera, a species of wild orange
Cadiz | Negros Occidental | the Spanish city of Cádiz.[11]
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 from Tagalog kalamba, meaning a wide-mouthed earthen water jar (also called balanga or banga).[12][13][14]
Calapan | Mindoro Oriental | Hispanicized form of the old Tagalog word kalapang which means "branch."[15]
Calbayog | Samar | from bayog, a Visayan name for the Pterospermum diversifolium tree that grew in abundance in the city.[16]
Caloocan | none | Hispanicized form of the Tagalog root word lo-ok; kalook-lookan (or kaloob-looban) which means "innermost area."
Candon | Ilocos Sur | Unknown. Probably named after the Spanish municipality of Candón in Huelva, Andalucia; or from a Hispanicization of Ilocano kandong (Cyrtophyllum fragrans), a species of tree with very hard wood
Canlaon | Negros Oriental | Kanlaon Volcano.
Carcar | Cebu | the Spanish municipality of Cárcar.[17]
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.[18]
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 | none | from pandaragupan, a Pangasinense word which means "gathering place", due to the city's history as a market town.[19]
Danao | Cebu | Hispanicized form of danawan, a Cebuano word for "small lake."[20]
Dapitan | Zamboanga del Norte | from dapit, Cebuano for "to invite."[21]
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."[22]
Escalante | Negros Occidental | the Spanish municipality of Escalante.[23]
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."[24]
Himamaylan | Negros Occidental | derived from Mamaylan, one of the ancient pre-colonial names of Negros Island by Cebuano-speaking Visayans.[25]
Ilagan | none | According to Fr. Julian Malumbres, Ilagan derived its name from the word laga, an Ibanag word for "smallpox", of which there was an outbreak during the town's founding in 1686.[26]
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."[27]
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".[28]
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 | none | The Spanish municipality of Lucena.[29]
Maasin | Southern Leyte | Cebuano for "salty."
Mabalacat | Pampanga | from balakat, a species of tree endemic to the Philippines.[30]
Makati | none | from kumakati, Tagalog for "ebbing tide"; shortened and Filipinized form of its original Spanish name "San Pedro de Macati."
Malabon | none  | from Tagalog malabon, meaning "having many silt deposits". The name was previously also used for two other places in Cavite during the early Spanish colonial period: Santa Cruz de Malabon (now Tanza) and San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias).[2]
Malaybalay | Bukidnon | named after a spring of the same name along the Sawaga River[31]
Malolos | Bulacan | from paluslos, a Kapampangan word which means "downstream" in relation to the Calumpit River.
Mandaluyong | none | from 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.[32]
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.[33]
Meycauayan | Bulacan | Hispanicized form of the Tagalog phrase may kawayan meaning "a place full of bamboos."
Muntinlupa | none | Hispanization of Tagalog muntíng lupà, literally meaning "small land" or alternatively, "little soil".
Muñoz | Nueva Ecija | Francisco Muñoz, Spanish politician and former gobernadorcillo of Nueva Ecija.[34]
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 settlement of Oroquieta (Orokieta) in Navarra, Spain[35]
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 | none | Dayang-dayang Pasay, a Namayan princess. The city's old name was Pineda, after Spanish horticulturist Cornelio Pineda.
Pasig | none | an 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 | none | a contraction of its original Spanish name Puerto de la Princesa which means "Port of the Princess" named after Princess Eulalia of Spain.[36]
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"[37]
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 | Hispanicization of Suligaw (historically also rendered as "Suligao" or "Zurigan"), the native name for the Surigao River
Tabaco | Albay | from tabak ko, Bikol for "my bolo"
Tabuk | Kalinga | from tobog, Ilocano for "living stream."[38]
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 (also known as salakot)
Tagaytay | Cavite | Tagalog for "ridge".
Tagbilaran | Bohol | from tagubilaan, a Boholano phrase which means "to hide from the Moro pirates."[39]
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, the Visayan common name for the native beach almond tree
Talisay | Negros Occidental | from talisay, the Visayan common name for the native beach 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."[40]
Tanjay | Negros Oriental | Hispanicized corruption of taytay, a Cebuano word which means "bamboo bridge."[41]
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.[42]
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 | from Ilocano bigàan (or kabigàan), literally "the place where bíga (Alocasia macrorrhizos) abounds"[43][44]
Zamboanga City | Zamboanga del Sur | 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

[edit]

* List of Philippine provincial name etymologies

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Chamberlain, Alexander F. (January–November 1900). "Philippine Studies. 1. Place-Names". The American Antiquarian and Oriental Journal. 22: 394–399.
2. ^ a b Lesho, Marivic; Sippola, Eeva (2018). "Toponyms in Manila and Cavite, Philippines". Vergleichende Kolonialtoponomastik Strukturen und Funktionen kolonialer Ortsbenennung. De Gruyter. pp. 317–332\. ISBN 9783110608618.
3. ^ "Brief Historical Background". batac.gov.ph. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
4. ^ Cultural Heritage Archived June 16, 2010, at the Wayback Machine City Government of Bayawan. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
5. ^ "Baybay: beach, heritage and adventure". BusinessWorld. January 29, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
6. ^ "City of Bayugan". Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
7. ^ "City Profile". City Government of Bogo. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
8. ^ "Borongan". Provincial Government of Eastern Samar. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
9. ^ "History". Provincial Government of Agusan del Norte. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
10. ^ Our History City Government of Cabanatuan. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
11. ^ Brief History Archived February 17, 2012, at the Wayback Machine City Government of Cadiz. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
12. ^ Kirk, Kate (2001). A Guide to Los Baños for IRRI International Staff & Families. International Rice Research Institute. p. 17\. ISBN 9789712201608.
13. ^ Sta. Maria, Felice Prudente (1996). In Excelsis: The Mission of Jose P. Rizal, Humanist and Philippine National Hero. Studio 5 Designs. p. 40\. ISBN 9719135336.
14. ^ "kalamba". Tagalog Dictionary. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
15. ^ General Information Archived February 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine City Government of Calapan. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
16. ^ Calbayog Archived July 24, 2012, at archive.today City Government of Calbayog. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
17. ^ "Carcar Heritage City". The Manila Times. May 2, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
18. ^ "Local Heritage". City Government of Catbalogan. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
19. ^ History Part I – Spanish Rule Archived April 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Dagupan.com. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
20. ^ Danao City Brief History Archived May 14, 2003, at archive.today Retrieved April 21, 2012.
21. ^ Dapitan History Dapitan.com. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
22. ^ "History of El Salvador". City Government of El Salvador. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
23. ^ Escalante City History Negros Occidental Provincial Government. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
24. ^ "City Government". City Government of Guihulngan. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
25. ^ Ocampo, Ambeth (2012). Looking Back. Anvil Publishing, Incorporated. ISBN 9789712736087.
26. ^ "History". Official Website | City of Ilagan | The Corn Capital of the Philippines. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
27. ^ "Lamitan comes out of the shadows". The Philippine Star. June 24, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
28. ^ History LasPinas.com. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
29. ^ About Lucena Archived May 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Quezon Provincial Government. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
30. ^ "Municipality of Mabalacat". Provincial Government of Pampanga. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
31. ^ Balane, Walter I. (June 21, 2010). "Scholar cites need to correct inaccuracies in Malaybalay's history". MindaNews. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
32. ^ History of Mandaue City Archived January 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine City Government of Mandaue. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
33. ^ "The Town History of Mati". City Government of Mati. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
34. ^ All About Science City of Muñoz City Government of Muñoz. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
35. ^ Naval, Lhem (2017). Misamis Occidental: Historical Vignettes of the Grand Northwest. ISBN 9781365724350.
36. ^ "History of Puerto Princesa". Puerto Princesa Resorts. Archived from the original on July 21, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
37. ^ About City of Sipalay Archived March 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine City Government of Sipalay. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
38. ^ Espiritu, E.V. (January 4, 2015). "Remote, fledgling city marshals resources to build hotel industry". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
39. ^ Tagbilaran City General Info Archived September 13, 2012, at archive.today City Government of Tagbilaran. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
40. ^ City of Tangub History Archived May 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine City Government of Tangub. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
41. ^ Tanjay History Retraced Timoteo S. Oracion. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
42. ^ Tayabas Brief History Archived September 3, 2012, at archive.today ExploreQuezon.com. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
43. ^ Madriaga, D.D., Mors Rev. (1957). "The Coats-of-Arms of the Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions in the Philippines: Part I". Philippine Studies. 5 (2): 177–189.`{{cite journal}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
44. ^ Blench, Roger M. (2012). "Vernacular Names for Taro in the Indo-Pacific Region : Implications for Centres of Diversification and Spread". Senri Ethnological Studies. 78: 21–43\. doi:10.15021/00002508.

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