New Map 1.18 City Name Suggestions

[antostor]

Few suggestions from the top of my head:

BM18 Köln -> add Keulen (Dutch)

BU21 Wien -> add Vienne (French), Viena (Spanish/Portuguese), Wieden (Polish), Vena (Russian), Viyana (Turkish), Wenen (Dutch), Viden (Ukrainian/South Russian)

CB12 Narva -> Rugodiv when owned by medieval Russians, Narva from Renaissance on

CG13 Tver -> Kalinin when communist. Tiberias in Latin.

CD14 Vitebsk -> add Witebsk (Polish/German)

CD18 Kyiv -> add Kijow (Polish), Kiew (German)

CH14 Moskva -> add Moskwa (Polish), Moscua (Latin), Mosca (Italian), Moscow (English), Moscou (French) Moskou (Dutch), Moskau (German), Moskova (Turkish)

CL23 Ordzhonikidze (is named after a Bolshevik leader), should be Dzhaudzhikau if founded/owned by non-Russians, as it is the Ossetian name, Vladikavkaz if owned by non-communist Russians.

 

[TwoF]

Hello. I checked the table of city names and the table of settlers and I had a question about cell CO15. This cell has a full 10 points for a settler, but by name, this cell is a rather minor city of Dimitrovgrad. Perhaps this is a mistake and you wanted to make a level 10 settler in the cell of the cities of Simbirsk / Ulyanovsk or Samara.

 

[Leoreth]

Settler maps and city name maps are not necessarily in sync.

 

[TwoF]

Settler maps and city name maps are not necessarily in sync.

I see the cells in both tables mean the same point on the map in the game, at least in this case.
If you understand this, then I would like to clarify on synchronization. It is not necessary that the publicly available version of these cards is up-to-date, or are the principles of filling both cards different?
I'm interested in this point, because judging by these maps, the remaining 20 cells of the settler map with level 10 or more correspond to large and important cities in Russia. Only this cell is different.

 

[Leoreth]

It means that I did not cross reference the city names maps when creating the settler maps and will adjust either one or the other over time.

 

[Vitaly220712]

CH14 Moskva -> add Moskwa (Polish), Moscua (Latin), Mosca (Italian), Moscow (English), Moscou (French) Moskou (Dutch), Moskau (German), Moskova (Turkish)

I think it is necessary and sufficient to add only Polish and French.

 

[antostor]

I think it is necessary and sufficient to add only Polish and French.

While only Poles and French did conquer the city, the Germans came somewhat close and in the Game itself anything can happen, anyway.

 

[Glorfindel of Gondolin]

Hi, I changed and added a few Roman, Greek etc names of two cities in the levant, as I think that they would better represent the historical importance of the area.

1) I added the Roman, Greek and Byzantine name of the Damasque tile, and set it to Caesarea Philippi \ Banias, as it was an important city in the region both commercially and religiously since Alexander the Great, and during Roman and Byzantine rule.

2) I added Beit shean (with its Greek, Byzantine, Latin and Egyptian names) to the Amman tile, as it was more important during the Classical period, being the capital of the Byzantine province of Palaestina Secunda, leading city in the Decapolis (a union of Roman cities in the Levant), and a major Egyptian administration center in the bronze age.

Google drive link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MrjHhHBDl2AlRv14ewFFYZm0iDfbEy4mfTuoQdhjOEE/edit?usp=sharing

 

[Temujin8k]

Hello. I've been keeping a separate version of the city name map for years now, with updates independent of the original version by LacsiraxAriscal (except most of the New World which I copied over at one point in the past). This does not have as many historical names as the first one we have, but if you want to use this as a secondary reference or for cross reference, just go ahead

 

[Krieger-FS]

Another batch of city name suggestions, this time regarding Persia/Iran and the Caucasus. It was really challenging and fun learning about obscure ancient Persian, Hellenic, Elamite, and other Bronze Age sites in the region, and I even was able to include some Kushan (from the Saka/Indo-Saka kingdoms) names. As usual, I’d love some feedback.

I’m unsure about next research. I was tempted to look at Central Asia, Khazar/South Russia or even going to India, but probably will make a take at Anatolia/Turkey.

 

[Krieger-FS]

More suggestions, this time covering Anatolia. Considering how many civs interact and can settle the region in the entire timespan of the game, we have quite many names there that includes Hittites, Babylonian (mostly Akkadian), Assyrian, Greek, Persian, Celtic (considering I didn't found authentic Celtic names, I've added the main Galatian sites in Greek, since they became Hellenized pretty early), Latin, Byzantine, Arabic, Independent (mostly Armenian but also Kurdish), Turkic (covering from the Seljuks to the Anatolian beyliks), Italian (mostly Genoese colonies and later Italian Dodecanese territories), and Turkish (Ottoman to modern Turkey) with some translations to modern European languages, besides few Egyptian, Phoenician, and Iranian additions. Again, always open to feedback!

Next, I'm planning to look at Central Asia.

 

[Glorfindel of Gondolin]

More suggestions, this time covering Anatolia. Considering how many civs interact and can settle the region in the entire timespan of the game, we have quite many names there that includes Hittites, Babylonian (mostly Akkadian), Assyrian, Greek, Persian, Celtic (considering I didn't found authentic Celtic names, I've added the main Galatian sites in Greek, since they became Hellenized pretty early), Latin, Byzantine, Arabic, Independent (mostly Armenian but also Kurdish), Turkic (covering from the Seljuks to the Anatolian beyliks), Italian (mostly Genoese colonies and later Italian Dodecanese territories), and Turkish (Ottoman to modern Turkey) with some translations to modern European languages, besides few Egyptian, Phoenician, and Iranian additions. Again, always open to feedback!

Next, I'm planning to look at Central Asia.

Looks great good job

 

[Krieger-FS]

Another batch of city name suggestions, this time regarding Afghanistan and much of Central Asia.

As with any region in our game maps, there are notable distortions on the map, which are reflected in the proposed city names here. Among the ones that I’d like to stress, there are obvious cases in Afghanistan (because of the mountain tiles) and near the main rivers (Amu Darya/Oxus and Syr Darya/Jaxartes) to allow most of the most important towns be represented in individual tiles. Also relied in some stormgulen's suggestions. Also note that there is some ambiguity surrounding the precise locations of many ancient and early medieval cities/sites, often known only through fragmentary records. Thus, I expect that some proposed suggestions may be controversial and look forward to some feedback.

Furthermore, it's worth noting that many primary sources are in languages such as Persian/Farsi, Chinese, Russian, and Kazakh, which I am unable to read or understand, besides it being not written in Latin characters. So, I’ve relied on translations, particularly from ChatGPT. It would be very helpful if someone who actually speak these languages could review my suggestions.

Spoiler Some notes regarding city names in Afghanistan and Central Asia: :

Persian: Preference is given to Achaemenid names, with a few instances of translated names (in Middle Persian/Sassanian) or Ancient Bactrian names.

Indian: There are only a few names associated with ancient peoples/kingdoms from Indian sources. Considering the extent of the Maurya Empire, ancient Hindu kingdoms in Afghanistan, and the activity of Indo-Buddhist missionaries in Central Asia, contributions in this area are welcomed.

Greek: Greek geographers were not always precise about city names in this region, often listing numerous Alexandrias or Antiochs, leading to some ambiguity in names/locations. Efforts were made to include names for most tiles within Hellenistic-controlled areas, with the notable exception of Khwarazm, where Alexander deliberately avoided direct conquest and later Hellenistic kingdoms did not exert direct control. Also has some instances of translations.

Kushan: Alongside names connected with the Yuezhi and the proper Kushan empire, this category includes Bactrian, Sogdian, Khwarezmian, Dzhetyasar culture, Hunas, and other pre-Islamic/non-Turkic polities like the Zunbils. Given the relatively scarcity of recorded names, it's suggested to alternatively use Indian (if the Kushan capital is in India) or Persian names (if not).

Turkic: Encompasses names from ancient to modern Turkic polities, including the Göktürks, Türgesh, Uyghurs, Kimeks, Oghuz, Seljuks, Timurids, Nogai, Turkmens, Uzbek, Khazhak, Kirgiz, and others. Variations in modern Turkic languages were considered based on the locations of the cities. Also, in few locations (notably Kazakh steppes), names from clans/tribes, necropolises, mausoleums, and even natural landmarks are used due to the scarcity of older towns, as using contemporary or Soviet-era names during the Middle Ages/ Renaissance would be inappropriate.

Chinese: Ancient names are favored, particularly those associated with early Middle Ages travelers and those from the Tang Dynasty Anxi Protectorate, which included large areas in Central Asia, most of modern Afghanistan, and even parts of Iran. Multiple Chinese names that refer to the same city are included due to various romanizations.

Arabic: Emphasis is placed on Middle Age names, particularly from the Umayyad, Abbasid, Samanid, and Ghurid empires – Muslim non-Turkic polities. It's important to note that ancient Muslim geographers employed varied yet similar names, resulting in variations in the romanization of city names.

Mongol: Middle Mongolian names for most cities are scarce, despite the region being incorporated relatively early in Genghis Khan’s campaigns. Many areas seem to have maintained the same names under Mongol rule due to the presence of Turkic peoples in Genghis Khan’s armies. Later, some Mongol polities became increasingly Turkicized, such as the Golden Horde or Chagatai Khanate, resulting in city names that are not markedly distinct from Turkic ones. Nonetheless, I’ve added some of the latter as flavor.

Iranian: Also includes modern Pashto and Tajik names since they are part of the modern Farsi/Persian languages.

Russian: Like in other languages, there are various forms of romanization for this language, and the chosen form may not always correspond to what is already in use, so some feedback would be welcomed.

Next, I’m planning on finishing modern Kazakhstan, since I’ve found some interesting sources about the region, and it should have more early Turkic/Mongol names, considering the existing civs in the mod.

 

[Gen1_]

I think the Celts could get some names in America regarding to the Scottish colonization of North America.
I know New Edinburgh is already planned for England, but it makes more sense with Celts.
Sorry for writing quality of pictures.

 

[Valetss]

Suggestions on the names of cities for the territory of the maximum expansion of Russia (and a few neighboring tiles). All names in Russian are standardized and given in accordance with the rules of transliteration of Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Romanization_of_Russian).
The dates on which the cities were renamed have been added, and the communist names are also given.

 

[Tigranes]

Some screenshots.

View attachment 656778
View attachment 656781

I wonder what is the latest status on this. City names are not the current priority, but they will be at some point. Are we still encouraged to submit suggestions?

One particular pet obsession of mine is to see every state represented by it's largest city/MSA. Very pleased to see that Philadelphia is on the map, but it's location 1N off Washington doesn't allow for Baltimore. And so Maryland is the only State without representation. It would be much more accurate to rename Philadelphia to Baltimore, and Allentown to Philadelphia (2 N off Washington).

 

[Krieger-FS]

Another batch of city name suggestions, this time covering the rest of Kazakhstan, parts of Russia, and China.

In general, the same remarks about the area that I mentioned before still apply. As usual, there are some distortions, notably in the Zhetysu and near Tobol areas. Additionally, there is some ambiguity regarding the locations of many ancient-to-medieval towns, which we know only from fragmentary mentions in Arabic, Turkic, and Chinese sources. Many steppe and desert areas were primarily inhabited by nomads, so we don’t have any older city names associated with the sites; to avoid using modern names, and reflect local traditions, I searched for names of mausoleums (mazars), necropolises, tribes, clans, archaeological sites, and even natural landmarks. Finally, many primary sources came from Chinese, Russian, and Kazakh languages, so I relied on translations.

Spoiler Notes regarding city names: :

Chinese: Mostly drawn from historical names given by the Chinese, particularly during the Han, Tang, Ming, and Qing dynasties, as well as from modern China and Kara Khitai (a Sinicized khanate of the Khitan people). Note that romanizations can vary, but I tried to stick to pinyin. It also includes a few names of cities, polities, and tribes described by ancient Chinese travelers and geographers (primarily from the Han and Tang eras) that were not actually under Chinese control.

Kushan: Primarily cities and sites in the Zhetysu and Dzungaria regions that have few recorded pre-Chinese and pre-Turkic names. Some of these names may have been used by the Yueshi, but most come from the East Iranian languages (primarily Sogdian) that were dominant in those areas by late antiquity.

Turkic: Includes names and sites from the Göktürk, Türgesh, Uyghur, Karluk, Kara-Khanid, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Kimek, Sibir, Astrakhan, and Nogai Khanates/Khaganates, as well as sites from Tatars, Bashkirs, and other Turkic peoples/tribes, and modern Turkic names. It also includes names from tribes, clans, natural features (such as mountains, rivers, and lakes), mausoleums, and archaeological sites. Additionally, it includes names of towns, villages, and sites from Uralic peoples under Sibir’s influence (Selkup, Khanty, and Mansi).

Arabic: Includes names from Abbasid and Samanid towns, but most are from medieval Arabic travelers and geographers. Note that there are some shared names for Turkic sites, as we don’t know how some polities (such as the Kimek Khanate) named their towns beyond Arabic sources, but I tried to include distinct variations.

Mongol: Mostly from the original Mongol Empire and its successors, such as the Golden Horde, White/Blue Horde, Oirat, Kalmyk, and Dzungar Khanates, as well as a few Turkic variations for Turkicized or mixed-Mongol peoples (such as the Altai). In some cases, it also includes variations of Turkic languages (to differentiate Kazakh, which is more influenced by Mongol language, from local Tatar or Bashkir names) and names from the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty in China. Just like in the Turkic case, there are instances of names from tribes, clans, natural features, and archaeological sites.

Russian: In many cases, there are few instances of distinct romanizations, so I chose the most recurrent forms I found. Many sites are included with their original names, especially if they were forts.

German: Includes both Volga German sites, Russo-German sites in Siberia, and German variations of city names.

Independent: Names associated with smaller polities or peoples (Selkup, Khanty, and Mansi) not represented by DoC’s civs: the Skewbald Horde and the Yugran principalities of Tabary and Pelym.

Next, I’m planning to look at the Tarim Basin and Mongolia. The latter, in particular, has some issues with city names: there are a few tiles without it, some seem quite misplaced, and it is too focused on the modern era.

 

[Krieger-FS]

More suggestions, this time my take on Tarim Basin and nearby areas.

As a general observation, it was more challenging than I initially thought. Finding reasonable pre-Chinese names smaller cities, as well as for some locations in the Taklamakan Desert and western areas of the Gobi Desert, was difficult. Although there are some available sources in English, many are in Chinese, requiring me to rely on AI translations. So, feedback would be appreciated.

Next, I plan to tackle the Gansu and Mongolian regions, hopefully filling areas that currently have few place names, despite their long histories under powerful states and empires.

Spoiler Notes regarding city names: :

Chinese: includes names from various Chinese eras, particularly those dynasties that either conquered or had a strong presence in the region. Most names come from the Han (covering foreign peoples, polities, and cities under the Protectorate of the Western Regions), Tang (Anxi Protectorate), Ming, Qing, and modern Chinese eras, though some from other periods are included, along with a few Qara-Khitai names (a Sinicized Khitan polity). The focus is on current pinyin romanizations, though some older forms (like Wade-Giles) are included for some ancient names.

Kushan: where available, I’ve used Tocharian names, though mostly reflect Eastern Iranian languages that were widespread in the ancient-to-medieval Tarim Basin. These names are linked to the Tocharian peoples, their languages, and the polities they established — such as the ancient city-states of Khotan (Hotan), Loulan (Shanshan), Shule, Kucha, Yanqi, and Jushi. Some names are reconstructions based on linguistic evidence proposed by specialists, though these may not be widely accepted. Sogdian names, due to their influence under the Chinese empires, are also included. In a few cases, where historically accurate names were unknown, I have included speculative translations in Tocharian B or very tentative associations based on ancient Chinese reconstructions.

Turkic: covers names associated with the main historical Turkic polities in the region, including the Uyghur Khaganate, the Kingdom of Qocho, and the Kara-Khanids, as well as modern Uyghur names.

Tibetan: the Tibetan Empire controlled parts of this region for some time, but few city names from the Tibetan era are known, aside from those in Tibetan-ruled Khotan in the southwestern Tarim. Most names appear to derive from Tang Dynasty names, the previous rulers of the area, and can be found in Tibetan documents unearthed in the region. A few Tangut-era names from Western Xia are also included.

Mongol: include names tied to the Mongol Empire, the Oirat Confederation, the Dzungar Khanate, and modern Mongolian names. It also includes the Mongol-ruled Muslim Turkic khanates, such as Chagatai, Yarkent, Turpan, and Kara Del.

Greek/Latin: names mentioned by Ptolemy, which may correspond to these towns. It’s worth noting that modern scholarship disputes many of these identifications, and several distinct names may refer to the same city. I've taken some liberty in selecting these names, so more feedback is welcomed.

Indian: few names in Sanskrit are available from the Tocharian era, associated with the spread of Buddhism and, to a lesser extent, Kushan influence, which may cause some ambiguity with Kushan names. Many Tarim polities had strong cultural links with India, and some, like Khotan, even claimed to have been founded by Indian princes.

Arabic: most names in this category come from medieval Muslim geographers and travelers, particularly Middle-Persian speakers authors such as Gardizi and the anonymous author of Hudud al-‘Alam. There may be some variation in spelling due to different romanizations.

Italian: based on Marco Polo's descriptions.

Japanese: are mostly modern versions of local names, included due to Japan's historical and gameplay ambitions regarding China.

 

[brett0007]

I think the Celts could get some names in America regarding to the Scottish colonization of North America.
I know New Edinburgh is already planned for England, but it makes more sense with Celts.
Sorry for writing quality of pictures.

On the celts the welsh place names of Y Wladfa is also an option, a series of welsh colonies in Patagonia.

 

[Leoreth]

Thanks for the updates. However, as I am working with the city name suggestions I found that storing them in the comments of the city name map spreadsheet is very impractical, especially as the map changes with my internal revisions. So it would be very helpful if you could compile them in a different way that is more easily accessible and does not depend on another spreadsheet that is liable to change.

To illustrate, I extracted all suggestions in the comments into a format that looks like this:

Spoiler :

It would be useful if future, and ideally past, suggestions were using a similar format.