Czarna

Czarna is a Polish toponym meaning “black” and is used as both a place name and, less commonly, a surname. In Polish, czarna is the feminine form of czarny, the standard adjective for the color black.

The name is attached to numerous villages and settlements across Poland, reflecting a long tradition of color-based toponyms. The exact origin of each locality’s name can vary; in many cases it may reference landscape features such as dark soil, dense forests, shaded valleys, or water features that stood out to early settlers.

Beyond places, Czarna can appear in hydronyms and, occasionally, as a surname. As a surname, it is typically derived from a person’s origin near a place named Czarna or from a descriptive nickname associated with the term.

In Poland, places named Czarna are usually small rural communities and can differ in administrative status across voivodeships. The name’s prevalence illustrates how color descriptors have historically shaped local geography and identity.

See also: Czarny, a related toponym and surname.