Geonyms

Geonyms are geographic names assigned to features on the Earth's surface. They include names for places such as cities, rivers, mountains, regions, and streets. In practice, geonyms are a central concern of toponymy—the study of place names—but the term is often used to emphasize the geographic nature of the name rather than its linguistic or cultural aspects.

Geonyms can be endonyms, the names used by local residents, or exonyms, names used by outsiders. The distinction matters in mapping and data presentation because exonyms may vary across languages and historical periods. Creating a consistent set of geonyms relies on gazetteers: curated inventories of place names with standardized spellings, languages, and coordinates.

Naming authorities at national and international levels govern geonym use. National geographic names offices, along with international bodies such as the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN), publish guidelines on spelling, capitalization, diacritics, and variant names. Gazetteers provide structured metadata, including feature type, latitude and longitude, language, and sources, supporting maps, navigational systems, and geographic information systems.

Geonym practice intersects with politics and culture. Place names can reflect historical claims, colonization, or contemporary identity, leading to disputes or renaming. Responsible naming efforts document preferred names, exonyms, historical names, and variants to promote clarity and respect for local traditions while serving global information needs.