A study on sources of names of capitals

Abstract

Sources of place names are among the research topics in the science of geography. Current research is compiled from various resources related to the sources of the capital in independent countries. results show that; out of 196 capitals in independent countries, names of 101 was based on geographical characteristics, 31 was based on individuals, 5 on communities, 4 on conquests, 3 on mythology and another 3 on legends. Name source of the 14 capitals is not exactly known and the names of the rest of the capitals, 35 in number, were based on several other elements. The most common element in identifying the names of capitals is found to be the natural and human geography elements of the location of the city and its immediate vicinity. Statesmen, explorers and colonists were influential in determining the names of new capitals discovered through explorations or founded after explorations. Compilation of name sources of country capitals has allowed us to obtain valuable information regarding the geographical characteristics and historical processes of these settlements.