There are many humorous, interesting, and occasionally downright perplexing city and town names scattered across Canada’s landscape. These names reveal a rich fusion of Indigenous ancestry, colonial history, and artistic flair, whether the location is a picturesque location in British Columbia or a quirky community in Newfoundland.
We’re delving into a selection of locations that will make you chuckle, ponder, or add to your bucket list of places to visit, ranging from amusing Canadian city names to incorrect Canadian town names. In addition, this list is full of fascinating Canadian city names, French Canadian city names, and even Canadian city names for babies and canines!
And if you want to celebrate these amusing locations, custom lapel pins or souvenir medals can help you carry a piece of Canada’s humor and heritage wherever you go.
Why Are Canadian City Names So Funny and Memorable?
Discover the Cultural Meaning Behind Canadian Place Names
Preserve Indigenous, French, and colonial roots
Spark curiosity and draw tourism
Offer great ideas for pet names, baby names, and more
Let locals and travelers alike connect over a shared laugh
Top 20 Popular Canadian City Names and Their Origins
Here’s a look at the most iconic names and what they stand for:
Toronto—From “Tkaronto” (Mohawk), meaning “trees standing in water”
Vancouver—named after explorer George Vancouver
Saskatoon—from “misâskwatômina” (Cree), meaning “saskatoon berries”
Winnipeg—Cree origin for “muddy water”
Halifax—Honoring the Earl of Halifax
Moose Jaw—Possibly from Cree “moosegaw,” meaning “warm breeze”
Yellowknife – Refers to tools made by the Dene
Iqaluit—Inuktitut for “place of many fish”
Calgary—Gaelic for “bay farm”
Ottawa—From the Algonquin “Odawa,” meaning “to trade”
Edmonton—named after a town in England
Charlottetown—Honoring Queen Charlotte
Victoria—Named for Queen Victoria
Montreal—From Mont Royal, a hill at the city’s heart
Quebec—Algonquin for “where the river narrows”
Regina—Latin for “queen”
Whitehorse—Named after nearby White Horse Rapids
Thunder Bay—named for its stormy appearance
Banff—Named after Banff shire, Scotland
Churchill—known for polar bears, named after John Churchill
Hilarious and Funny Canadian City Names with Unique Origins
Humor meets geography in these places:
Dildo (Newfoundland)—yes, it’s real. It draws curious tourists from everywhere.
Swastika (Ontario)—Named before WWII, from Sanskrit for “well-being”
Balls Creek (Nova Scotia)—Named after a local family
Crotch Lake (Ontario)—a lake name that always raises eyebrows
Blow Me Down (Newfoundland)—A nod to intense winds
Punkeydoodles Corners (Ontario)— No one knows for sure, but it sticks
Goobies (Newfoundland)—an unforgettable name
Stoner (British Columbia)—Peaceful place, funny name
Spuzzum (BC)—Now a catchphrase for “middle of nowhere”
Come By Chance (Newfoundland)—quite literally discovered “by chance”
Moose Factory—once a trading post, now a pun-lover’s dream
Forget Saskatchewan—ironically, hard to forget
Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! (Quebec) – Only city with two exclamation marks
Elbow (Saskatchewan)—Located in the “bend” of a river
Eyebrow (Saskatchewan) – Nearby ridge looks like—you guessed it
Witless Bay (Newfoundland)—Sounds silly, feels scenic
Peel (Newfoundland)—Simple, yet hilarious out loud
Medicine Hat—Amuses with its literal weirdness
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump—A UNESCO site with a tragic origin story
Balls Falls (Ontario)—Popular hiking spot, unforgettable name
Most Unusual and Strange Canadian City Names Ever Recorded
These oddities make you double-check your GPS:
Dead man’s Flats
Whiskey Gap
Stinking Lake
Ghost River
Desperation Lake
Pain Court
Mosquito
Skull Creek
Thunder Bay
Hungry Hill
Canada’s Most Inappropriate Town Names That Still Exist
From silly to borderline offensive:
Dildo
Crotch Lake
Climax
Big Beaver
Balls Falls
Spread Eagle
Swastika
Punkeydoodles Corners
Rat Portage
Bummers Roost
Funniest Town Names You’ll Find in Ontario, Canada
Ontario is rich with strange gems:
Punkeydoodles Corners
Balls Falls
Swastika
Crotch Lake
Dorking
Climax
Big Beaver
Moose Factory
Canadian City Names That Are Hard to Pronounce
Try saying these ten times fast:
Ukkusiksalik
Tsiigehtchic
Kangiqsualujjuaq
Kugluktuk
Kuujjuaq
Aklavik
Qu’Appelle
Tuktoyaktuk
Pond Inlet
Iqaluit
The Longest City and Town Names Found in Canada
Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
North West River
Dorchester Crossing
Cape Saint Francis
Port-au-Choix
Frenchman Butte
Kakabeka Falls
Cool Canadian City Names That Sound Awesome
Moonbeam
Peace River
Snow Lake
Dawson City
Yellowknife
Jasper
Banff
Whitehorse
Top 10 Rivers That Inspired Canadian City Names
These cities and towns were named after the rivers they flank:
Red River
Peace River
Fraser River
Mackenzie River
Athabasca River
Saint Lawrence River
Saskatchewan River
Ottawa River
Columbia River
Yukon River
Dog Name Ideas Inspired by Canadian Cities
Great for giving your pup a patriotic twist:
Jasper
Moose
Yukon
Churchill
Banff
Elbow
Bear
Red
Thunder
Rocky
Baby Names Inspired by Canadian Places
For something unique and meaningful:
Jasper
Aurora
Yukon
Hudson
Victoria
Selkirk
Charlottetown
Athabasca
Banff
Dawson
Beautiful and Historic French Canadian City Names
Popular cities in Québec and beyond:
Montréal
Québec City
Trois-Rivières
Saint-Jérôme
Rimouski
Gatineau
Sherbrooke
Laval
Longueuil
Chicoutimi
City Highlights from Ontario and Saskatchewan
🧭 Ontario Cities
Toronto
Ottawa
Mississauga
Hamilton
Windsor
Kingston
Sudbury
Thunder Bay
🌾 Saskatchewan Cities
Saskatoon
Regina
Moose Jaw
Prince Albert
Swift Current
Estevan
Yorkton
Canada’s Weirdest and Worst City Names According to Locals
Toad River
Flin Flon
Rat Portage
Climax
Bummers Roost
Biggar
Vulcan
Dorking
How to Invent Your Own Funny Canadian City Name
Here are 5 ideas to get creative:
Pair a random animal with an emotion—like Giggly Beaver
Use body parts or objects—like Elbow Falls or Sock Ridge
Add an exclamation or phrase—Ha-Ha Hill
Insert food references—Nacho Valley or Pickle Prairie
Mash historic and hilarious words—Colonel Muffin Falls
Frequently Asked Questions about Canadian Cities
❓ How many cities are there in Canada?
Over 300 officially designated cities.
❓ Does Canada have states?
No, Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories.
❓ What do towns get called in Canada?
They’re simply called towns, villages, hamlets, or cities, depending on population and governance structure.
