List of disparaging place names

This is a list of disparaging city nicknames. These pejorative nicknames May Be coined for a variety of reasons. Some may be a straightforward desire to slander or disparage the city, while others may be examples of self-deprecating humor. While residents of the cities may see such nicknames as offensive, they may also be reclaimed as positive, even affectionate terms. Still other nicknames may simultaneously serve to attack the city from the outside and as a point of pride for its residents, especially those criticizing local politics.

Etymology of these terms varies. Some are simple portmanteaus of the city name and profanity; others may reference a specific aspect of the city, such as an unfortunate incident in city history.

Canada

  • British Columbia
    • Vancouver: Blandcouver, Hongcouver, No Fun City
  • Ontario
    • Toronto: Centre of the Universe, Muddy York

United Kingdom

  • Bradley Stoke: Sadly Broke
  • Brighton: Skid-Row-on-Sea
  • Edinburgh: Auld Reekie
  • Kingston upon Hull: Hull on Earth
  • Liverpool: Liverpuddle
  • London: The Great Wen, The Smoke
  • Manchester: Gunchester
    • Moss Side: Baby Beirut
  • Nottingham: Shottingham
  • Salford: Dirty Old Town
  • Stevenage New Town: Silkingrad.
  • Sheffield: People's Republic of South Yorkshire

United States

  • Alabama
    • Birmingham: The Tragic City
  • California
    • Berkeley: Berzerkeley, The People's Republic of Berkeley
    • Davis: People's Republic of Davis
    • Los Angeles: La-La Land
    • Redwood City: Deadwood City
    • Sacramento: Suckramento
    • Santa Monica: People's Republic of Santa Monica
  • Colorado
    • Boulder: The People's Republic of Boulder
    • Lafayette: Laugh at It
  • Illinois
    • Chicago: Beirut by the Lake, Chiberia, Chi-raq, Second City, Shitcago
  • Indiana
    • Indianapolis: India-no-place
  • Kansas
    • Dodge City: The Wickedest Little City in America
  • Maryland
    • Baltimore: "Bodymore, Murderland", The City That Bleeds, Harm City, Mob Town
    • Takoma Park: The People's Republic of Takoma Park
  • Massachusetts
    • Cambridge: The People's Republic of Cambridge
    • Somerville: Slummerville
    • Worcester: Wormtown
  • New Hampshire
    • Concord: The City in a Coma
  • New Jersey
    • Asbury Park: The Dark City
    • Dumont: The Dirty D
  • New Mexico
    • Gallup: Drunk Driving Capital of America
  • New York
    • Albany: Smallbany
    • Amsterdam: Amsterico
    • Auburn: The Prison City
    • New York City: Hymietown, The Modern Gomorrah, New York Shitty
      • Staten Island: The Forgotten Borough
    • Rochester: Rottenchester
    • Utica: The City That God Forgot
    • Yonkers: Junkers
  • North Carolina
    • Fayetteville: Torture Town
  • Ohio
    • Cincinnati: Cincinasty
    • Cleveland: The Sleepy City
    • Youngstown: Murdertown
  • Oregon
    • Portland: Little Beirut
  • Pennsylvania
    • Philadelphia: Filthadelphia or Filthydelphia
    • Pittsburgh: Shittsburgh
  • Texas
    • Houston: Baghdad on the Bayou
  • Vermont
    • Burlington: The People's Republic of Burlington
  • Washington, D.C.: Hollywood for Ugly People, [...] Capital of America
  • Washington state
    • Aberdeen: Port of Missing Men
    • Spokane: Spokanistan
    • Tacoma: Tackyoma

See also

  • Big Smoke, a disparaging nickname for several cities
  • Dysphemism
  • Lists of nicknames
  • Satiric misspelling