How Do Lakes Get Their Names?

Naming Lakes: A Mix of Geography, History, and Culture

Lake names arise from diverse origins, reflecting the people and landscapes around them.

1. Geographic / Locational Names

Named for the region, country, or administrative unit they reside in.

• Lake Superior – "Upper lake" (French: Lac Supérieur) relative to Lake Huron.
• Lake Victoria – Named by John Hanning Speke for Queen Victoria.
• Lake Baikal – From Mongolian Baygal ("nature") or Buryat Baygal.
• Lake Titicaca – Likely from Aymara Titi (puma/lead) + Caca (gray/rock).

2. Physical Characteristic Names

Describe shape, origin, color, or size.

• Crater Lake (OR) – Formed in a volcanic caldera.
• Lake Tahoe (CA/NV) – From Washoe dá'aw ("lake") or tahoe ("big water").
• Finger Lakes (NY) – Long, narrow, finger-like glacial troughs.
• Great Salt Lake (UT) – High salinity.

3. Eponymous Names (People / Events)

Honor explorers, leaders, or historical events.

• Lake Powell (UT/AZ) – John Wesley Powell, 1869 Colorado River explorer.
• Lake Mead (NV/AZ) – Elwood Mead, Bureau of Reclamation commissioner.
• Lake Nasser (Egypt/Sudan) – President Gamal Abdel Nasser (Aswan High Dam).
• Lake Diefenbaker (SK) – Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.

4. Indigenous Names

Many lakes retain or have restored their original Indigenous names.

• Lake Winnipeg – Cree wīnipēk ("muddy waters").
• Lake Athabasca – Cree aðapaskāw ("where there are reeds one after another").
• Lake Ontario – Huron/Wyandot ontarí:io ("great lake").

5. Descriptive / Folk Names

• Medicine Lake, Mirror Lake, Devil's Lake, Lost Lake – Reflect appearance, legend, or history.

Ultimately, a lake's name is a layer of human story laid upon a natural feature.