What’s in a Name? Juliet asks in Romeo and Juliet. Here are a few Nicaraguan cities with some interesting information about the names associated with them.
Novia del Xolotlán
“The Bride of Xolotlán” is a nickname for Managua, the capital city of Nicaragua which sits on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán, otherwise known as Lake Managua (supposedly named after the Mangue or Mánkeme tribes and agua – water). If you are from Managua you are a Managuan, maybe a Managüense or even a Capitalino/a.
El Diamante de las Segovias
“The Diamond of the Segovias”, Esteli was known by its official name; Villa de San Antonio de Pavia de Estelí and if you are from there you are an Esteliano or Esteliana. The Segovia’s are made up of the five northern Nicaraguan departments, Matagalpa, Jinotega, Esteli, Madriz and Nueva Segovia and they produce some of the best cigars and coffee.
Ciudad de las Naranjas
“The City of Oranges” is Chinandega, surrounded by fertile flat land it’s an important agricultural center as well as a popular destination for lovers of beaches, nature, history and volcanos. A few miles down the road you will find Chichigalpa, the home of Flor de Caña, Nicaragua famous rum brand. People from Chinandega are called a “Chinandegano or Chinandegana”.
Santiago de los Caballeros de León
León was originally called “Santiago of the Knights of León”. It was formerly the capital city of Nicaragua. Shortened to its modern name; León it’s known as a laid back student city, steeped in history. If you ae from León, you are a “Leonese”.
La Gran Sultana
Granada has a strange nickname for a Nicaraguan city, Sultana being a female member of a Sultans family. However, being named after Granada in Spain, the city has a direct link to its sister city’s Moorish style and history (characteristic of the Muslim civilization in North Africa and Spain between the 8th and the 15th centuries). Granada is the oldest colonial city established on mainland. It’s quite different to its rival city León which has more of a Castilian look. The folk from Granada refer to themselves as a “Granadino or a Granadina.
Leal Villa de San Fernando de Masaya
The Loyal Town of San Fernando de Masaya, later called “Ciudad Leal de San Fernando de Masaya” when it became a “Loyal City” and now simply known as Masaya, the capital city of the department of the same name. If you are from Masaya, you are a proud “Masayense”.
Ciudad de los Mangoes
“The City of Mangos” (Rivas) was originally called; Villa de la Purísima Concepción de Rivas de Nicaragua (“The Town of the Immaculate Conception of Rivas of Nicaragua”). Today it’s just called The City of Rivas and as with other Nicaraguan cities, it’s sometimes referred to by its nickname, “The City of Mangos”. The nickname comes from the mango trees, many of which are still there but used to line the “alameda”, meaning streets shaded by trees. The city goes back to the 18th century and later became the departmental capital. As you leave the sea level and San Juan del Sur, you will only climb about 70 meters (about 230 feet) to reach Rivas and its population of “Rivenses”.
