cross-border town naming

Cross-border town naming occurs where towns or villages with the same or equivalent names are divided between two different countries. This does not necessarily imply that those towns or villages are located in geographic proximity or that they are located near a current border (divided cities). Reasons for this taking place may include the following:

The town or village existed before the border or even before the modern concept of a border. The border was added later (sometimes by war), dividing a community.
A community on one side of a border grows up to service the border and then takes the name of the adjacent community on the other side of the border.
Communities grow up on both sides of the border to service the border, taking the name of the border crossing.

Most places are in Europe, but there are also some examples in North America and Asia. In Europe, until the first half of the 20th century and again since the Schengen Agreement in the late 20th century, such divisions could be mostly ignored by the inhabitants.

Examples

Note that this list includes only places with similar names that are in someway connected (by history, geography or otherwise) across modern-day international borders. Towns that have the same name but bear no relationship to each other are also very common but not particularly notable.

= Africa =

class="wikitable"

Cross-border town

! Countries

Moyale and Moyale

|{{flag|Ethiopia}} / {{flag|Kenya}}

Mobaye and Mobayi-Mbongo

|{{flag|Central African Republic}} / {{flag|Democratic Republic of the Congo}}

Cocobeach and Cogo

|{{flag|Gabon}} / {{flag|Equatorial Guinea}}

Loukolela and Lukolela

|{{flag|Republic of the Congo}} / {{flag|Democratic Republic of the Congo}}

Mulanje and Milange

|{{flag|Malawi}} / {{flag|Mozambique}}

Chirundu and Chirundu

|{{flag|Zambia}} / {{flag|Zimbabwe}}

Mukumbura and Mucumbara

|{{flag|Zimbabwe}} / {{flag|Mozambique}}

Tin Zaouatine and Tinzaouaten

|{{flag|Algeria}} / {{flag|Mali}}

=Asia=

class="wikitable"

Cross-border town

! Countries

Astara and Astara

| rowspan="3" |{{flag|Azerbaijan}} / {{flag|Iran}}

Julfa and Julfa

Biləsuvar and Bileh Savar

Luohu District and Lowu

| rowspan="2" |{{flag|China}} / {{flag|Hong Kong SAR}}

Shatoujiao Subdistrict and Sha Tau Kok

Khorgas and Khorgas

|{{flag|China}} / {{flag|Kazakhstan}}

Sarpi and Sarp

|{{flag|Georgia}} / {{flag|Turkey}}

Padang Besar and Padang Besar

|{{flag| Malaysia}} / {{flag|Thailand }}

Dibba /Al Buraimi-Al Ain

|{{flag|Oman}} / {{flag|UAE}}

Al-Mazyunah and Shahan District

|{{flag|Oman}} / {{flag|Yemen}}

Ishkoshim and Ishkashim

|{{flag|Tajikistan}} / {{flag|Afghanistan}}

Sarahs and Sarakhs

|{{flag| Turkmenistan}} / {{flag|Iran }}

Kara-Suu and Qorasuv

|{{flag| Uzbekistan}} / {{flag|Kyrgyzstan }}

=Europe=

Cross-border town ! Countries
class="wikitable"
Helsingør and Helsingborg \|{{flag\|Denmark}} / {{flag\|Sweden}}
Rhederbrug, Rhederveld and Rhede \| rowspan="6" \|{{flag\|Netherlands}} / {{flag\|Germany}}
Barnflair (Ter Apel) and Barnfleer
Veenebrugge and Vennebrügge
Zwillbroek and Zwillbrock
Ubach over Worms and Übach-Palenberg
Spijk and Spyck
Baarle-Nassau and Baarle-Hertog \| rowspan="4" \|{{flag\|Netherlands}} / {{flag\|Belgium}}
Clinge and De Klinge
Koewacht and Koewacht
Putte and Putte
Lichtenbusch and Aachen-Lichtenbusch \| rowspan="2" \|{{flag\|Belgium}} / {{flag\|Germany}}
Stubach and Stupbach
Obereisenbach, Untereisenbach and Übereisenbach \| rowspan="5" \|{{flag\|Luxembourg}} / {{flag\|Germany}}
Wallendorf-Pont and Wallendorf
Bollendorf-Pont and Bollendorf
Echternach and Echternacherbrück
Wasserbillig and Wasserbilligerbrück
Comines-Warneton and Comines \| rowspan="5" \|{{flag\|Belgium}} / {{flag\|France}}
Wervik and Wervicq-Sud
Quiévrain and Quiévrechain
Gœgnies-Chaussée and Gognies-Chaussée
Grand-Reng and Vieux-Reng
Mondorf-les-Bains and Mondorff \|{{flag\|Luxembourg}} / {{flag\|France}}
Leiding and Leidingen \| rowspan="8" \|{{flag\|France}} / {{flag\|Germany}}
Petite-Rosselle and Großrosseln
Grosbliederstroff and Kleinblittersdorf
Obergailbach and Niedergailbach
Scheibenhard and Scheibenhardt
Lauterbourg and Neulauterburg
Neuf-Brisach and Breisach
Kembs and Klein Kembs
Huningue and Kleinhüningen \| rowspan="3" \|{{flag\|France}} / {{flag\|Switzerland}}
Lucelle and Lucelle, Kleinlützel
Saint-Gingolph and Saint-Gingolph
Île des Faisans and Isla de los Faisanes (Konpantzia / Île de l’hôpital / Île de la Conférence) \|{{flag\|France}} / {{flag\|Spain}}
Rheinfelden-Baden (Badisch-Rhyfälde) and Rheinfelden (Rhyfälde) \| rowspan="3" \|{{flag\|Germany}} / {{flag\|Switzerland}}
Laufenburg and Laufenburg
{{ill\|Reckingen (Küssaberg)\|de\|Reckingen (Küssaberg)}} / Rekingen
Vorderriß and Hinterriß \| rowspan="2" \|{{flag\|Germany}} / {{flag\|Austria}}
Bayerisch Gmain and Großgmain
Altwarp and Nowe Warpno \| rowspan="18" \|{{flag\|Germany}} / {{flag\|Poland}}
Rosow and Rosówek
Hohenwutzen and Osinów Dolny (Niederwutzen)
Zäckericker Loose and Siekierki (Zäckerick)
Güstebieser Loose and Gozdowice (Güstebiese)
Altrüdnitzer Ausbau and Stara Rudnica (Altrüdnitz)
Neulietzegöricke and Stare Łysogórki (Altlietzegöricke)
Zelliner Loose and Czelin (Zellin)
Küstrin-Kietz and Kostrzyn nad Odrą (Küstrin)
Lebus and Nowy Lubusz (Neulebus)
Kunitzer Loose / Kunice (Kunitz)
Aurith and Urad (Aurith)
Guben and Gubin
Zelz and Siedlec (Zelz)
Klein Priebus and Przewóz (Priebus)
Görlitz and Zgorzelec
Altlandsberg and Gorzów ((Neu))Landsberg)
Altentreptow and Trzebiatów (Treptow)
Seifhennersdorf and Horní Jindřichův (Oberhennersdorf) \| rowspan="10" \|{{flag\|Germany}} / {{flag\|Czech Republic}}
Zinnwald and Cínovec (Zinnwald)
Deutschgeorgenthal and Český Jiřetín (Georgendorf)
Deutscheinsiedel and Mníšek (Böhmisch Einsiedel)
Deutschneudorf and Nová Ves v Horách (Gebirgsneudorf)
Deutschkatharinenberg and Hora Svaté Kateřiny (Böhmisch Katherinenberg)
Hammerunterwiesenthal and České Hamry (Böhmisch Hammer)
Oberwiesenthal and Loučna (Böhmisch Wiesenthal)
Neualbenreuth and Mýtina (Altalbenreuth)
Bayerisch Eisenstein and Železná Ruda (Markt Eisenstein)
Pelhřimovy and Pielgrzymów \| rowspan="6" \|{{flag\|Czech Republic}} / {{flag\|Poland}}
Opavice and Opawica
Krásné Loučky / Krasne Pole
Chomýž and Chomiąża
Český Těšín (Czeski Cieszyn) / Cieszyn
Horní Líštná and Leszna Górna
Dziewięcierz and Devyatyr (Дев'ятир) \| rowspan="2" \|{{flag\|Poland}} / {{flag\|Ukraine}}
Uhrusk and Novouhruzke (Новоугрузьке)
Tokary and Tokary (Токари, Такары) \| rowspan="4" \|{{flag\|Poland}} / {{flag\|Belarus}}
Usnarz Górny and Usnar-Dolnyy (Уснар-Дольный)
Minkowce and Minkovcy
Nowodziel and Novodel
Český Heršlák and Deutsch Hörschlag \| rowspan="2" \|{{flag\|Czech Republic}} / {{flag\|Austria}}
České Velenice and Gmünd
Bad Radkersburg and Gornja Radgona \| rowspan="6" \|{{flag\|Austria}} / {{flag\|Slovenia}}
Deutschfeistritz and Slovenska Bistrica (Windischfeistritz)
Graz and Slovenj Gradec
Deutschlandsberg and Podčetrtek (Windischlandsberg)
Oberdrauburg and Dravograd (Unterdrauburg)
Unterloibl and Podljubelj (Unterloibl)
Moncenisio and Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis \| rowspan="2" \|{{flag\|Italy}} / {{flag\|France}}
Briga Alta and La Brigue
Gorizia and Nova Gorica \|{{flag\|Italy}} / {{flag\|Slovenia}}
Lavena Ponte Tresa and Ponte Tresa \| rowspan="3" \|{{flag\|Italy}} / {{flag\|Switzerland}}
Cremenaga and Ponte Cremenaga
Ponte Chiasso and Chiasso
Komárom and Komárno \| rowspan="4" \|{{flag\|Hungary}} / {{flag\|Slovakia}}
Sátoraljaújhely and Slovenské Nové Mesto
Balassagyarmat and Slovenské Ďarmoty
Esztergom and Štúrovo
Nagylak and Nădlac \| rowspan="2" \|{{flag\|Hungary}} / {{flag\|Romania}}
Újszalonta and Salonta
Kelebia and Kelebija \|{{flag\|Hungary}} / {{flag\|Serbia}}
Rio de Onor and Rihonor de Castilla \|{{flag\|Portugal}} / {{flag\|Spain}}
Karesuando and Kaaresuvanto \| rowspan="8" \|{{flag\|Sweden}} / {{flag\|Finland}}
Kuttainen and Kuttanen
Katkesuando and Kätkäsuvanto
Muonionalusta and Muonio
Kihlangi and Kihlanki
Pello and Pello
Övertorneå and Ylitornio
Karungi and Karunki
Valga and Valka \|{{flag\|Estonia}} / {{flag\|Latvia}}
Hrvatska Kostajnica and Kostajnica \| rowspan="10" \|{{flag\|Croatia}} / {{flag\|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
Hrvatska Dubica and Kozarska Dubica
Stara Gradiška and Gradiška
Dolina and Donja Dolina, Gornja Dolina
Orubica and Orubica
Slavonski Kobaš and Kobaš
Dubočac and Bosanski Dubočac
Slavonski Brod and Brod
Svilaj and Donji Svilaj, Gornji Svilaj
Slavonski Šamac and Šamac
Bosanska Rača and Sremska Rača \| rowspan="2" \|{{flag\| Bosnia and Herzegovina}} / {{flag\|Serbia}}
Zvornik and Mali Zvornik
Metaljka and Metaljka \|{{flag\| Bosnia and Herzegovina}} / {{flag\|Montenegro}}
Mali Žam and Jamu Mare \| rowspan="3" \|{{flag\|Serbia}} / {{flag\|Romania}}
Požeženo and Pojejena
Veliki Gaj and Gaiu Mic
Chilia Veche and Kiliya \|{{flag\|Romania}} / {{flag\|Ukraine}}
Sculeni and Sculeni \| rowspan="2" \|{{flag\|Romania}} / {{flag\|Moldova}}
Ungheni and Ungheni

=North America=

Towns and cities listed have names of a common origin across an international boundary; matching pairs across provincial or state boundaries (such as Kansas City or Lloydminster) are common but are not listed here.

Cross-border town ! Countries
class="wikitable"
Beebe Plain, Quebec and Beebe Plain, Vermont \| rowspan="5" \|{{flag\|United States}} / {{flag\|Canada}}
Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
North Portal, Saskatchewan and Portal, North Dakota
Madawaska County, New Brunswick and Madawaska, Maine
Calexico, California and Mexicali, Baja California \| rowspan="9" \|{{flag\|United States}} / {{flag\|Mexico}}
Tecate, California and Tecate, Baja California
Naco, Arizona and Naco, Sonora
Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora
San Luis, Arizona and San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora
El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua (formerly El Paso del Norte, 1852–1888)
Boquillas, Texas and Boquillas del Carmen, Coahuila
Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas
Progreso, Texas and Nuevo Progreso, Tamaulipas