Park Name Generator

How do cities come up with names for their parks?

Most people don’t think about how a city comes up with names for its parks. It’s usually just a given that parks are named after things like former presidents, war heroes, or natural landmarks. But have you ever wondered how city officials decide on these names?

It turns out there is a lot of thought that goes into naming a park. City officials want to make sure the name is reflective of the community and also has some historical significance. They also want to make sure the name is easy to pronounce and spell.

A history of parks

The history of parks is complicated, with many different beginnings, uses, and roles that have evolved over time. Designers transformed these "pleasure gardens" into an expressive and aesthetically pleasing space for recreation and leisure, as most scholars attribute the origin of the modern park to the grounds of stately homes. With carefully planned borders, pathways, planting areas, and constructed structures like pavilions and gazebos, these early gardens heavily relied on formality and hierarchy. During the Renaissance in Europe, when royals and other high-ranking individuals began to design gardens that served both aesthetic and practical purposes, the concept of the park was born. These gardens had intricate designs with dominant lines and focal points like fountains and statues. Visitors would congregate in these gardens, where they could stroll and take in the area's opulence. The English first became aware of the health benefits of exercise and the concept of "airing" themselves outdoors in the 18th century. They started building more public parks that were open to people from all walks of life and emphasized exercise and recreation as a response. In order to maintain equilibrium and highlight the surrounding landscape, the gardens of this era frequently featured terraces, winding pathways, and strategically placed trees and shrubs. These public spaces provided places for people to unwind, work out, and enjoy the outdoors, and they quickly sparked a design trend in other European and American nations. In the 19th century, park designs evolved to become more flexible and open, with prominent features like pavilions, ponds, and fountains. Parks became increasingly regulated as their popularity increased, with sections of green separated by paths and structures like playgrounds and benches. Parks were also used to express notions of nationhood and patriotism. A park in the United States that exemplifies this ideal is the National Mall in Washington, D.C., with its sculptures, mowed grass, and numerous monuments honoring the country's founders. Modern park designs aim to create diverse and welcoming outdoor spaces for people to enjoy. There are now a variety of programs and activities in parks, such as community gardens and walking trails, that aim to promote physical activity, foster connections to the natural environment, and instill community pride. Parks can be a peaceful haven or a bustling center of activity; however, regardless of their function, they have become an essential part of many cities and communities' daily lives and will continue to develop over the coming centuries.

5 questions to help you come up with park names

1. What type of park is it?
2. What locations or geographical features are nearby?
3. What region or country does it belong to?
4. What flora or fauna is native to the area?
5. What is the local culture like?

Can I use the random park names that this tool creates?

Yes you can. The Story Shack claims no copyright on any of these names, but it is of course possible that some of the values this name generator provides are already owned by anyone else, so please make sure to always do your due diligence.

How many ideas can I generate with this Park Name Generator?

The Park Name Generator can generate thousands of ideas for your project, so feel free to keep clicking and at the end use the handy copy feature to export your park names to a text editor of your choice. Enjoy!

What are good park names?

There's thousands of random park names in this generator. Here are some samples to start: