“Torpedo? What a curious name for a street” someone just whispered. Rue Torpédo is a simple street. Yet, like many Parisian streets it holds stories within its name.
The City of Paris provides open data. This includes a list of all its streets. There are over six thousand streets. Each has a unique story. Some Parisian streets date back centuries. Their names allude to interesting histories.
Streets can be named after commercial enterprises. Shops in the past used elaborate signs. These signs helped people identify them. Some streets are named after these signs.
The City of Paris sometimes renames streets. This can be for political reasons. After World War I, the rue de Berlin was renamed. It became the rue de Liège. This honored Belgian resistance. The avenue de Tokio became the avenue de New York. This was after Japan sided against the Allies in World War II.
Surprisingly, many streets are named after landowners. Around 8% of Parisian streets have such names. This can be surprising. Today, streets are named after important figures.
Many streets bear the names of monarchs. This is remarkable for a republic. Examples include avenue Philippe-Auguste and boulevard Henri-IV. Some streets were renamed during the Revolution. Later, they switched back. Quai Bourbon became Quai de la République. It later returned to its original name.
British monarchs are also recognized. The avenue Victoria was named after Queen Victoria’s visit. Avenue George-V honors a World War I-era king.
It’s not just monarchs. Streets are also named after princesses and saints. The rue Saint-Charles honors Charles X. The rue Sainte-Anne commemorates Anne of Austria. Many streets include the word “saint” or “sainte”. These are often named after churches. Street names often go back centuries. Churches are landmarks.
Paris’s street layout evolves. The city creates new “squares”. These are like Place Michel-Petrucciani. The list of streets is likely to change. There are also unnamed roads with temporary names.
Exploring Parisian street names reveals history. Rue Torpédo is more than just a street. It is a piece of Paris’s story. So next time you wander here, consider that every street name has a tale.