The past and present of toponymy especially in the 6th and 13th districts of Budapest

Abstract

Place names are a vital part of our everyday lives because when we travel, we can determine the position of a place based on street names. Naming is in the hands of the political power so it is worth observing the elements of the toponymical structure with a critical eye. Whether commemorative street names reflect the historical perspective of a broader or a narrower social group makes a difference because if the latter prevails, alternative place names can easily be born. In my study, I would like to present some of the different lines of research on place names and briefly describe case studies of foreign countries and cities that highlight the different attributes of toponymy. I will then summarize the past and present of place names in Budapest followed by a qualitative and quantitative analyses of the 6^th and 13^th districts of the capital. Terézváros has a number of symbolic street names which were renamed in times of political change. The 13^th district consists of several neighbourhoods with different toponymical structures, which offers us interesting research opportunities.