U.S. Geographic Names Reference
Geographic terms are refused when buyers would read them as saying where the goods come from. Section 2(e)(2) covers terms that primarily describe that origin; Section 2(e)(3) covers terms that misdescribe it in a way that materially shapes a purchase decision. The closer the place is to being known for your product category, the harder the argument.
The goods-place-place goods question
The core test is whether the public makes a goods-to-place association: would a buyer think these goods originate there? Well known places need no proof of geographic meaning, while obscure ones may be treated as remote enough that the connection is not the first thing buyers notice.
| Ground | What has to be true | Practical example |
|---|---|---|
| Primarily geographically descriptive, Section 2(e)(2) | Buyers read the term as naming the origin, and the goods genuinely come from there or at least could | A winery using a well-known valley name; the term also may be primarily geographic |
| Primarily geographically deceptively misdescriptive, Section 2(e)(3) | Buyers read the term as naming an origin, the goods do not come from there, and the misdescription would matter to their buying decision | A wine-terms style place name used on products unrelated to that place |
Descriptiveness objections can often be answered with evidence of acquired distinctiveness. A term that actively misdescribes origin is harder to cure, because the issue is deception rather than the strength of the brand.
Reading these lists
The places below are listed because they are either commercially significant for plausible origin or famous enough that the association is automatic. Population figures are intentionally omitted — they belong to every few years' estimates and would date the page without improving the analysis.
States
- Alabama · South
- Alaska · West
- Arizona · West
- Arkansas · South
- California · West
- Colorado · West
- Connecticut · Northeast
- Delaware · South
- Florida · South
- Georgia · South
- Hawaii · West
- Idaho · West
- Illinois · Midwest
- Indiana · Midwest
- Iowa · Midwest
- Kansas · Midwest
- Kentucky · South
- Louisiana · South
- Maine · Northeast
- Maryland · South
- Massachusetts · Northeast
- Michigan · Midwest
- Minnesota · Midwest
- Mississippi · South
- Missouri · Midwest
- Montana · West
- Nebraska · Midwest
- Nevada · West
- New Hampshire · Northeast
- New Jersey · Northeast
- New Mexico · West
- New York · Northeast
- North Carolina · South
- North Dakota · Midwest
- Ohio · Midwest
- Oklahoma · South
- Oregon · West
- Pennsylvania · Northeast
- Rhode Island · Northeast
- South Carolina · South
- South Dakota · Midwest
- Tennessee · South
- Texas · South
- Utah · West
- Vermont · Northeast
- Virginia · South
- Washington · West
- West Virginia · South
- Wisconsin · Midwest
- Wyoming · West
Cities
| City | State | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| New York | New York | Finance, fashion, media |
| Los Angeles | California | Film and television |
| Chicago | Illinois | Midwest commercial hub |
| Houston | Texas | Energy and aerospace |
| Phoenix | Arizona | Desert tourism |
| Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | History and food |
| San Antonio | Texas | Tourism and military |
| San Diego | California | Coastal and biotech |
| Dallas | Texas | Business and energy |
| Austin | Texas | Music and technology |
| Jacksonville | Florida | Logistics |
| San Jose | California | Silicon Valley |
| Fort Worth | Texas | Ranching heritage |
| Columbus | Ohio | State capital and retail innovation |
| Charlotte | North Carolina | Banking |
| Indianapolis | Indiana | Motorsport |
| Seattle | Washington | Coffee and software |
| Denver | Colorado | Mountain gateway |
| Washington | District of Columbia | Federal government |
| Boston | Massachusetts | Universities and biotech |
| Nashville | Tennessee | Music |
| Detroit | Michigan | Automotive |
| Portland | Oregon | Food and craft manufacturing |
| Las Vegas | Nevada | Hospitality and gaming |
| Memphis | Tennessee | Music and logistics |
| Louisville | Kentucky | Bourbon and racing |
| Baltimore | Maryland | Port city |
| Milwaukee | Wisconsin | Brewing |
| Albuquerque | New Mexico | Southwest tourism |
| Atlanta | Georgia | Logistics and film |
| Miami | Florida | Latin American gateway |
| Salt Lake City | Utah | Mountain recreation |
| Honolulu | Hawaii | Beach tourism |
| New Orleans | Louisiana | Music and food |
| Minneapolis | Minnesota | Retail and medical devices |
| Cleveland | Ohio | Manufacturing heritage |
| Kansas City | Missouri | Food and freight |
| Brooklyn | New York | Distinct cultural identity within a city |
| Hollywood | California | Filmmaking shorthand |
| Savannah | Georgia | Southern tourism |
| San Francisco | California | Technology and food |
| Sacramento | California | State capital and agriculture |
| Oakland | California | Port and food |
| Long Beach | California | Port and tourism |
| Fresno | California | Agriculture |
| Santa Barbara | California | Coastal wine and tourism |
| Monterey | California | Coast and aquarium |
| Scottsdale | Arizona | Resort and golf |
| Sedona | Arizona | Desert tourism |
| Tucson | Arizona | Desert and optics |
| Mesa | Arizona | Phoenix metro |
| Miami Beach | Florida | Coastal tourism |
| Orlando | Florida | Theme parks |
| Tampa | Florida | Tourism and shipping |
| Fort Lauderdale | Florida | Boating and tourism |
| Key West | Florida | Island tourism |
| Virginia Beach | Virginia | Coastal tourism |
| Arlington | Virginia | Federal government |
| Charleston | South Carolina | Southern tourism |
| Raleigh | North Carolina | Research Triangle |
| Durham | North Carolina | Research Triangle |
| Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | Steel and medical heritage |
| Cincinnati | Ohio | Brands and food |
| St. Louis | Missouri | Beer and freight |
| Wichita | Kansas | Aviation manufacturing |
| Omaha | Nebraska | Finance and food |
| Tulsa | Oklahoma | Energy |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | Energy and cattle |
| Birmingham | Alabama | Banking and steel |
| Madison | Wisconsin | Universities and dairy |
| Boise | Idaho | Outdoor tourism |
| Anchorage | Alaska | Pacific gateway |
| Cambridge | Massachusetts | Universities |
| Newark | New Jersey | Port and air gateway |
| Jersey City | New Jersey | Finance adjacent to New York |
| Buffalo | New York | Niagara gateway |
| Rochester | New York | Optics and imaging |
| Syracuse | New York | Universities |
| Santa Fe | New Mexico | Art and tourism |
| Aspen | Colorado | Ski resort |
| Vail | Colorado | Ski resort |
| Park City | Utah | Ski resort |
| Maui | Hawaii | Beach tourism |
| Niagara Falls | New York | Tourism |
| Galveston | Texas | Coastal tourism |
| Jackson Hole | Wyoming | Ski and ranch tourism |
| Huntington Beach | California | Surf culture |
U.S. regions and features
| Name | Association |
|---|---|
| Silicon Valley | Software and venture capital |
| Napa Valley | Wine |
| Sonoma | Wine |
| Bourbon Street | Nightlife |
| Route 66 | American road travel |
| Rocky Mountains | Outdoor recreation |
| Appalachia | Appalachian crafts and music |
| Great Lakes | Freshwater shipping and recreation |
| Cape Cod | Coastal tourism |
| Chesapeake Bay | Seafood |
| Blue Ridge Mountains | Tourism and crafts |
| Death Valley | Desert tourism |
| Mississippi River | Inland waterway shipping |
| Black Hills | Tourism |
| Kentucky Bourbon Trail | Whiskey tourism |
| Wall Street | Finance shorthand |
| The Hamptons | Luxury coastal lifestyle |
| Hudson Valley | Food, wine and antiques |
| Finger Lakes | Wine |
| Willamette Valley | Wine and craft |
| Walla Walla | Wine |
| Texas Hill Country | Wine and barbecue |
| Santa Ynez Valley | Wine |
| Florida Keys | Coastal tourism |
| Lake Tahoe | Alpine recreation |
| Yellowstone | National park tourism |
| Niagara Falls | Tourism |
| Orange County | Surf and lifestyle |
| Silicon Beach | Los Angeles technology |
| Research Triangle | North Carolina technology |
| Pacific Northwest | Tech, coffee and outdoor gear |
| New England | Heritage, education and seafood |
| Deep South | Food, music and culture |
| French Quarter | New Orleans food and music |
| Amish Country | Pennsylvania tourism and crafts |
| Big Sur | Coastal tourism |
| Sun Belt | Retirement and migration |
| Rust Belt | Industrial heritage |
Well-known foreign places
| Place | Location | Association |
|---|---|---|
| Paris | France | Fashion, fragrance, food |
| Champagne | France | Sparkling wine protected at its source |
| Bordeaux | France | Wine |
| Burgundy | France | Wine and colour name |
| Cognac | France | Aged brandy |
| Provence | France | Lifestyle and wine |
| Milan | Italy | Fashion |
| Tuscany | Italy | Wine and food |
| Rome | Italy | History and tourism |
| Tokyo | Japan | Electronics and food |
| Kyoto | Japan | Craft and tourism |
| Zurich | Switzerland | Banking |
| Geneva | Switzerland | Watchmaking |
| London | United Kingdom | Finance and fashion |
| Manchester | United Kingdom | Textiles and music |
| Munich | Germany | Engineering and brewing |
| Berlin | Germany | Culture and startups |
| Amsterdam | Netherlands | Trade and logistics |
| Copenhagen | Denmark | Design |
| Stockholm | Sweden | Design and technology |
| Dublin | Ireland | Brewing and music |
| Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | Beach tourism |
| Havana | Cuba | Tobacco |
| Tehran | Iran | Carpets and pistachios |
| Casablanca | Morocco | Film association and tourism |
| Shanghai | China | Manufacturing and finance |
| Hong Kong | China (Special Administrative Region) | Finance and trade |
| Seoul | South Korea | Consumer electronics and beauty |
| Venice | Italy | Glass and tourism |
| Florence | Italy | Art and leather |
| Barcelona | Spain | Design and food |
| Madrid | Spain | Food and tourism |
| Lisbon | Portugal | Tourism |
| Vienna | Austria | Music and coffee |
| Prague | Czechia | Tourism |
| Athens | Greece | History and tourism |
| Santorini | Greece | Island tourism |
| Cairo | Egypt | History |
| Dubai | United Arab Emirates | Luxury and finance |
| Mumbai | India | Film and textiles |
| Bangalore | India | Technology |
| Delhi | India | Capital and food |
| Bangkok | Thailand | Food and tourism |
| Singapore | Singapore | Finance and trade |
| Sydney | Australia | Tourism |
| Melbourne | Australia | Coffee and culture |
| Toronto | Canada | Finance and film |
| Montreal | Canada | Fashion and food |
| Vancouver | Canada | Film and outdoors |
| Mexico City | Mexico | Food and culture |
| Cancun | Mexico | Beach tourism |
| Bali | Indonesia | Tourism |
| French Riviera | France | Luxury coast |
| Brussels | Belgium | Chocolate and institutions |
| Bavaria | Germany | Beer and engineering |
| Swiss Alps | Switzerland | Skiing |
| St. Moritz | Switzerland | Luxury ski resort |
| Oslo | Norway | Design |
| Reykjavik | Iceland | Tourism |
| Cape Town | South Africa | Tourism |
| Marrakech | Morocco | Tourism |
| Macau | China (Special Administrative Region) | Gaming |
| Taipei | Taiwan | Technology |
| Osaka | Japan | Food |
| Shenzhen | China | Manufacturing |
| Jeju | South Korea | Island tourism |
| Istanbul | Turkey | Tourism |
Geographic names are refused under Section 2(e)(2) where the mark primarily describes an origin of the goods or services, and under Section 2(e)(3) where it misdescribes that origin in a way that is materially deceptive. The test is whether buyers would think this is where the goods come from, and whether the connection is merely remote or obscure.
Frequently asked questions
Can a place name ever register?
Yes, when the geographic meaning is remote or obscure for these goods, or once the term has acquired distinctiveness through long exclusive use.
Does it matter whether I really am located there?
It matters greatly. If you genuinely operate there, the issue is descriptiveness, which is curable with evidence. If you do not, the Office looks at whether the term deceived buyers, which is not.
Is a foreign place name treated differently?
The same tests apply, but the analysis usually asks whether U.S. buyers would know the place and connect it with these goods. Paris, Milan and Tokyo are well known; a small village may not be.
More in Databases & Legal Resources
U.S. Surname Reference
Frequency-ranked U.S. surname data, for surname refusal risk context.
Protected Names & Official Insignia
Flags, government seals, and other matter barred from registration.
U.S. Copyright Act (Title 17)
The provisions of Title 17 that govern ownership, duration, registration, and infringement.
Copyright Office Rules (37 C.F.R. Part 202)
The procedural rules behind every registration, notice, and deposit requirement.