List of renamed places in Namibia
{{short description|None}}
{{Contains special characters|Khoekhoe}}
Since 1990, there have been a small number of places in Namibia which have been renamed, mainly for political, cultural, or linguistic reasons. Some names have been changed to remove colonial or apartheid references, often reverting to their original native language names. Other names (such as street names in Windhoek) have been renamed after foreign leaders or famous Namibians. Overall, Namibia has had fewer renamed places than neighbouring South Africa and Zimbabwe.
German period
Most place names in German South West Africa continued to bear German spellings of the local names, as well as German translations of some local phrases.
The few exceptions to the rule included places founded by the Rhenish Missionary Society, generally biblical names, as well as
- Hornkranz (Hoornkrans)
- Sandfontein
- Stolzenfels
- Waterberg (Omuverumue)
Regions and constituencies
- Caprivi Region → Zambezi Region (2013){{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/09/namibia-colonialism-renames-caprivi-strip|title=Namibia wipes colonialism off the map|last=Smith|first=David|date=2013-08-09|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-08-14|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/26/luderitz-v-naminus-dispute-over-towns-name-divides-namibia|title=Lüderitz v !Nami≠nüs: dispute over town's name divides Namibia|last=Smith|first=David|date=2015-02-26|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-08-14|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}
- Okavango Region → Kavango Region (1998){{Cite journal|last1=Fuller|first1=B.|last2=Prommer|first2=I.|date=May 2000|title=Background Readings|url=http://pure.iiasa.ac.at/6214/1/IR-00-031.pdf|journal=Population-Development-Environment in Namibia|publisher=International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis|pages=xix}}
- Brandberg Constituency → Dâures Constituency (1998){{Cite news | title=Re-division of certain regions into constituencies: Regional Councils Act, 1992 | newspaper=Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia | issue=1940 | pages=7–25 | publisher=Government of Namibia | date=31 August 1998 | url=http://www.lac.org.na/laws/1998/1940.pdf | format=pdf}}
- Buitepos Constituency → Kalahari Constituency (1998)
- Khomasdal North Constituency → Khomasdal Constituency (2013)
- Lüderitz Constituency → ǃNamiǂNûs Constituency (2013){{Cite news|url=http://www.sun.com.na/local-news/luderitz-renaming-misunderstood-shanghala.56453|title=Lüderitz renaming misunderstood: Shanghala|date=27 August 2013|work=Namibian Sun|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024100537/http://www.sun.com.na/local-news/luderitz-renaming-misunderstood-shanghala.56453|archive-date=24 October 2013|df=dmy-all}}
- Okalonga Constituency → Okalongo Constituency (1998)
- Okatope Constituency → Onyaanya Constituency (1999){{Cite news | title=Amendment of Proclamation No. 25 of 1 September 1992, as amended by Proclamation No. 16 of 31 August 1998 | newspaper=Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia | issue=2233 | page=2 | publisher=Government of Namibia | date=22 November 1999 | url=http://www.lac.org.na/laws/1999/2233.pdf | format=pdf}}
- Oshikoto Constituency → Tsumeb Constituency (1999)
- Otjozondjou Constituency → Otjombinde Constituency (1998)
- Rundu Rural West Constituency → Ncuncuni Constituency (2013){{Cite news | title=Creation of new regions and division and re-division of certain regions into constituencies: Regional Councils Act, 1992 | newspaper=Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia | issue=5261 | pages=1–39 | publisher=Government of Namibia | date=9 August 2013 | url=http://www.lac.org.na/laws/2013/5261.pdf | format=pdf | access-date=12 September 2023 | archive-date=27 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427123633/https://www.parliament.na/index.php/archive/category/39-2013?download=1979:5261&start=140 | url-status=live }}
- Steinhausen Constituency → Okorukambe Constituency (2013)
- Uutapi Constituency → Outapi Constituency (1998)
- Wanaheda Constituency → Samora Machel Constituency (2003){{Cite news | title=Re-division of certain regions into constituencies: Regional Councils Act, 1992 | newspaper=Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia | issue=2942 | pages=2–21 | publisher=Government of Namibia | date=28 March 2003 | url=http://www.lac.org.na/laws/2003/2942.pdf | format=pdf}}
Settlements
- ǀAixa-aibes → Warmbad (1760)
- ǃAutsawises → Berseba (1850){{cite web
|url=http://www.karasrc.com/tourism/berseba/berseba.htm
|title=Karas Region Namibia, Berseba
|publisher=Karas Regional Council
|accessdate=14 July 2010
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229133834/http://www.karasrc.com/tourism/berseba/berseba.htm
|archivedate=29 February 2012
}}
- Arahoab → Aranos (1960s){{Cite book | title=Dictionary of Southern African Place Names | last=Raper | first=P.E. | year=1989 | publisher=Jonathan Ball Publishers | url=https://www.namibiana.de/namibia-information/literaturauszuege/titel/kaiserliche-poststationen-deutsch-suedwestafrika-uwe-albert-friedhelm-beck.html | page=A | isbn=0947464042}}
- ǀAi-ǁgams (Khoekhoegowab) / Otjomuise (Otjiherero) → Windhoek (1838) → Elberfeld / Barmen (1842) → Concordiaville (1844) → Esek (1844) → Windhoek{{Cite news|url=https://www.az.com.na/nachrichten/pillaged-deserted-developedwindhoek-is-shining/ | title=Pillaged Deserted, Developed: Windhoek is shining | date=28 May 2007 | newspaper=Allgemeine Zeitung | language=en-ZA}}
- Kalkfontein → Karasburg (1939){{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VUkGQ6xfYkgC&dq=kalkfontein+karasburg+renamed&pg=PA192|title=Historical Dictionary of Namibia|last1=Tonchi|first1=Victor L.|last2=Lindeke|first2=William A.|last3=Grotpeter|first3=John J.|date=2012-08-31|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810879904|pages=192|language=en}}
- Klipfontein (ǀUiǂgandes) → Bethanie (1815)
- Naosanabis → Wesley Vale (1843) → Leonardville (20th century){{cite web
|title=Biographies of Namibian Personalities, W. Entry for Hendrik Witbooi
|last=Dierks
|first=Klaus
|authorlink=Klaus Dierks
|url=http://www.klausdierks.com/Biographies/Biographies_W.htm
|access-date=29 October 2024}}
Streets
= [[Swakopmund]] =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| New Name
! Old Name |
|---|
| Libertina Amathila Avenue
| Brückenstraße |
| Anton Lubowski Avenue
|Lazarettstraße |
| Daniel Tjongarero Street
|Poststraße |
| Franziska Van Neel Street
|Mosely Avenue |
| Hendrik Witbooi Street
|Schulstraße |
| Hidipo Hamutenya Avenue
|Feldstraße |
| Mandume ya Ndemufayo Street
|Schlosserstraße |
| Moses ǁGaroëb Street
|Nordring |
| Nathaniel Maxuilili Street
|Breite Straße |
| Nelson Mandela Avenue
|Winterstraße |
| Rakotoka Street
|Kolonelstraße |
| Sam Nujoma Avenue
|Kaiser-Wilhelm-Straße |
| Theo-Ben Gurirab Avenue
|Bahnhofstraße |
| Tobias Hainyeko Street
|Mittelstraße |
| Vrede Rede Avenue
|Louis-Botha-Straße |
= [[Windhoek]] =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| New Name
! Old Name |
|---|
| Aaron Tjatindi Street
|Betlehem St |
| A. B. May Street
|Kalk St |
| Amsas Street
|Otjivero St |
| Andimba Toivo ya Toivo Street
|Kruppstraße |
| Axali Doëseb Street
|Louis Botha St |
| Bernt Carlsson Road
|Pionier Road |
| Bishop Patropas Tjitjo Street
|Genesis St[http://www.nampapr.com.na/?p=4975 City of Windhoek Mass Street renaming] NAMPA, 2018-10-01 |
| Bishop A. C. Kamburona Street
|Klaagliedere St |
| Bonifatius Haushiku Street |
| Christa Davids Street
|Paul Kruger St |
| Clemens Kapuuo Street
|Sabbat Street |
| Daniel Munamava Street
|Göringstraße |
| David Hosea Meroro Road
|Hochland Road |
| Dr. António Agostinho Neto Square
|Ausspannplatz |
| Dr. Mose Tjitendero Street
|Malcom Spence St |
| Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda Street
|Uhlandstraße |
| Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Avenue
|Gevers St |
| Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab Street
|Burg St |
| Eneas Peter Nanyemba Road
|Monte Christo Road[https://www.namibian.com.na/108040/read/Otjomuise-Monte-Christo-roads-renamed-after-liberation-heroes Roads renamed after liberation heroes] The Namibian, 2021-12-06 |
| Ephraim Hei Street
|Handelinge St |
| Evergreen Street
|Dorado Park St |
| Festus Lazarus Street |
| Fidel Castro Street
|Peter Müller St |
| Fonnie Karuaihe Street
|Lüderitz St |
| Frankie Fredericks Drive
|Knudsen St |
| Frans Indongo Street
|Bülowstraße |
| Fumbe Street
|Ongeama St |
| Gaob Dr. Justus ǁGaroëb Street
|Johann Albrecht St[https://www.observer24.com.na/windhoek-now-has-17-new-street-names/ Windhoek now has 17 new street names] Windhoek Observer, 2024-05-20 |
| General Murtala Muhammed Avenue
|Omuramba Road |
| General Karel Ndjoba Street
|Hennie Laubscher St[https://www.namibian.com.na/heroes-honoured-as-windhoek-gets-17-new-street-names/ Windhoek gets 17 new street names] The Namibian, 2024-05-17 |
| Hamutenya Wanahepo Ndadi Street
|Reginald Walker St |
| Hans-Dietrich Genscher Street
|Hostel St |
| Hendrik Witbooi Drive
|Charl Marais Street |
| Hosea Kutako Drive
|Okahandja Road |
| Independence Avenue
|Kaiserstraße |
| Jackson Kaujeua Street |
| Joseph Mukwayu Ithana Street
|Gloudina St |
| Julius K. Nyerere Street |
| Juuso Katangolo Street |
| Katjikuru Katjiuongua Street |
| Kuaima Riruako Street
|Bachstraße |
| Laurent-Désiré Kabila Road
|Populier Street |
| Mahatma Gandhi Street
|Perset St |
| Mandume Ndemufayo Avenue
|Gamsberg Road |
| Marcus Garvey Street |
| Marien Ngouabi Street
|Körner St (eastern part)[https://allafrica.com/stories/201110170542.html Nujoma Hails Street's Renaming] New Era Live, 2011-10-17 |
| Mburumba Kerina Street
|Bahnhofstraße |
| Mika Kaiyamo Street
|Dorp St |
| Michelle McLean Street
|Gold St |
| Nelson Mandela Avenue
|Klein-Windhoek-Weg |
| Olof Palme Street
|De Jager St |
| Omuzeme Street
|Omuzu St |
| Paul Mogagabe Street
|Trinitatis Straße |
| Phillip Shiimi Street |
| Rev. Erwin Tjirimue Street |
| Rev. Michael Scott Street
|Neser St |
| Reverend Karuaera Street
|Caesar St |
| Robert Mugabe Avenue
|Joan Harrison Street |
| Sam Nujoma Drive
|Curt von François Straße |
| Sean McBride Street
|Fanie Du Plessis St |
| Seretse Khama Street |
| Shanghai Road
|Central Avenue |
| Shikongo Nuunyango Street |
| Tsukhoe //Gowases Street
|Ranonkel St |
| Simeon Shixungileni Street
|Bismarckstraße |
| Werner List Street
|Stübel St |
| Wika Drive
|Liechtenstein St |
| Wilibald Kapuenene Street
|Attie Potgieter St |
| Winnie Madikizela Mandela Road |
The sources of the previous renaming documents are outdated or no longer available and are being reprocessed.{{Cite web|url=http://www.map-of-namibia.com/windhoek-streetrenames.html|title=Map of Windhoek Streets Renamed|website=www.map-of-namibia.com|access-date=2017-08-15}}
Airports
- J. G. Strydom International Airport → Hosea Kutako International Airport (1990)
Other
- Windhoek: Zoo Park → Verwoerd Park → Zoo Park (2004){{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2GZm2R9CxocC&dq=renamed+places+in+namibia&pg=PA130|title=Namibia (Other Places Travel Guide)|last=Allen|first=Jeremiah|publisher=Other Places Publishing|year=2010|isbn=9780982261965|pages=130|language=en}}
See also
References
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Renamed places in Namibia}}