100+ Cities From Around the World That Start With B

Within the vastness of the globe, thousands of cities teeming with a bustling population exist. Each of those cities had to start somewhere — specifically, with a name.

This comprehensive listicle takes stock of every city in the world with over 50,000 people in it that starts with B. Learn about the name origin of 10 of the cities and scroll through to discover many other cities that start with B.

Boston

While first known as Trimount, the center of the Massachusetts Bay Colony received its permanent name from Thomas Dudley. According to his work, the settlers of the colony named it after Boston, England in 1630.

Beijing

Beijing’s name has a significant etymological history. Notwithstanding the several changes that occurred within ancient dynasties, the romanization of China’s capital city name from Peking to Beijing happened around the 1950s.

Berlin

The city name “Berlin” comes from Old Polabian language. While no one speaks the language anymore and cannot accurately translate the word, the leading theory from officials and experts think it meant something to the effect of “wetland” or “marsh” to describe the environment in which Berlin is set.

Bangkok

Thai people don’t actually use the name Bangkok for their capital. Instead, they call it Krung Thep. Foreigners, however, use the “old” name, Baang-gook, the way they heard and repeated it (Bangkok). That’s because the full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit. 

Beirut

Beirut was named for the underground water supply it had. Named by the Phoenicians, the name means “The Wells.”

Barcelona

Barcelona started as Barkeno, an Iberian village on the coastal plain. The city itself, though, was later founded by Roman soldiers and settlers who set up a colony at the tail end of the first century B.C.E. They named it Barcino; however, the settlement became a warring ground for centuries and the name evolved with its rulers.

Buenos Aires

Literally translating to “fair winds,” Buenos Aires receives its name from the sailors who landed and prayed their thanks to Mary. The original name of the town was Ciudad de Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Ayre.

Budapest

Did you know that the name Budapest comes from the combination of two cities? Both towns of Buda and Pest sat on opposite sides of the Danube. The towns converged in 1873 once a bridge connected them, creating one new metropolitan. First called Pest-Buda, cartographers changed the name to Budapest after realizing it made more sense for travelers.

Busan

The city’s history dates all the way back to 18,000 B.C.E., though human settlements of influence rose to power in the area around the second century, C.E. In the second century, the Jinhan Confederacy named the down Geochilsanguk. Five hundred years later, its name changed to Dongae after the Silla Dynasty took over. Finally, in the tenth century, the Goryeo Dynasty updated the name to the permanent Busan-po, meaning “kettle” and “harbor.”

Baltimore

Maryland’s largest city and the birthplace of the nation’s anthem Baltimore has an interesting origin of its name. When settlers came to Maryland, they quickly received a town charter. The European family who financed and influenced the Maryland colony, the Calverts, were also barons of Baltimore, Ireland. As such, the settlers used their assets to name this new town.

In Irish, the phrase baile a ti mhoir means “town of the big house,” and the name Baltimore derives from this as well.

American Cities that Start with B

European Cities that Start with B

Chinese Cities that Start with B

Middle Eastern and African Cities that Start with B

Russian Cities that Start with B

Brazilian Cities that Start with B

Australian Cities that Start with B

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iamlukyeee/Shutterstock.com