City Nickname(s) That Natives / Locals Despise Or Find Corny

[JAYNYC]

When I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, it seemed like the only accepted nickname references for the area were:

The Bay (the greater Bay Area)
The City (San Francisco)
The Town (Oakland)
The Land (Oakland)

Naturally, people were also okay with each city being referred to by its actual name (e.g., San Francisco, Oakland, etc.).

But I noticed that there were certain nicknames - most commonly used by people visiting the area from out of state - that really irked and rubbed the natives and locals I knew the wrong way, and were a clear sign of an out-of-towner. These included:

San Fran
Frisco

Other commonly used city nicknames that I have observed locals being in strong opposition to (or not commonly using amongst their selves):

The Big Apple (NYC)
Beantown (Boston)
San Antone (San Antonio)
The Windy City (Chicago)

Interestingly, it seems that most natives / locals I know refer to Washington, D.C. as "D.C.", whereas visitors are the ones who most frequently refer to the city as "Washington".

What city nicknames have you heard that the natives / locals seem to despise, find corny, or infrequently use?

[skyscraperpage17]

Hot'lanta (Atlanta). A-Town and "The A" also wore out their welcome long ago.

ATL, Black Mecca and "City in a Forest" are all still acceptable and regularly used. Y'allywood (and Hollywood of the South) has slowly started to catch on too with the booming film industry.

[Buckeye Native 001]

Hell (Phoenix)

[Obadno]

Originally Posted by Buckeye Native 001

Hell (Phoenix)

The only one I've ever actually heard is "The Valley" used by locals for "the Valley of the Sun" used by not locals and nobody seems to care.

Tucson I call the "Dirty T" and they deserve it

[muertecaza]

Originally Posted by Obadno

The only one I've ever actually heard is "The Valley" used by locals for "the Valley of the Sun" used by not locals and nobody seems to care.

Tucson I call the "Dirty T" and they deserve it

It's weird, I basically NEVER refer to the Phoenix area as the Valley when I'm in Phoenix. But if I'm elsewhere in Arizona and returning to Phoenix, I find myself referring to Phoenix as the Valley much more often. Anecdotally I also feel like my relations in outlying towns are much more apt to refer to Phoenix as the Valley than Phoenix residents.

[AbortedWalrus]

I don't know how commonly despised it is but:

Referring to Philadelphia as "The Sixth Borough" can be pretty infuriating.

[Buckeye Native 001]

Originally Posted by muertecaza

It's weird, I basically NEVER refer to the Phoenix area as the Valley when I'm in Phoenix. But if I'm elsewhere in Arizona and returning to Phoenix, I find myself referring to Phoenix as the Valley much more often. Anecdotally I also feel like my relations in outlying towns are much more apt to refer to Phoenix as the Valley than Phoenix residents.

I live in Flagstaff and can confirm. People who live here go "down to the Valley" or "come back from the Valley" a lot.

[Pedestrian]

Originally Posted by Buckeye Native 001

I live in Flagstaff and can confirm. People who live here go "down to the Valley" or "come back from the Valley" a lot.

The media always calls Tucson "the Old Pueblo" but I never hear people call it that in regular conversation. It doesn't have any nicknames I hear.

[pj3000]

The Steel City (Pittsburgh)

N'Awlins (New Orleans)

[softee]

Toronto:

Hogtown
The Big Smoke
T-Dot
The 6ix

[Gresto]

Originally Posted by softee

Toronto:

Hogtown
The Big Smoke
T-Dot
The 6ix

I don't mind the first two, but I dislike the third one and loathe the last one. I also don't like "The Centre of the Universe", which is a moniker given to us, I think, by people in the ROC.

[JAYNYC]

Originally Posted by softee

Toronto:

Hogtown
The Big Smoke
T-Dot
The 6ix

I agree, both "T-Dot" and The 6ix (credit Drake - not!) sound super corny, IMO.

[softee]

Originally Posted by JAYNYC

I agree, both "T-Dot" and The 6ix (credit Drake - not!) sound super corny, IMO.

Before "the 6ix" started gaining popularity, many in the hip hop community had altered T-dot (which was a shortened version of "T. O.") to "The Dot".

• Video Link

I forgot to mention in my previous post that "T.O." is a largely accepted and well used nickname that doesn't bother most locals.

[10023]

Originally Posted by softee

Toronto:

Hogtown
The Big Smoke
T-Dot
The 6ix

Especially because that one is stolen from London (where no one uses it).

The only commonly used nickname for London that doesn’t make you sound corny is a matter-of-fact reference to it as “the Capital”. The weather presenters on TV, etc, will often use this. Otherwise, it’s two syllables, just say London.

In Chicago, do people still say “the Chi” aside from trying to sound like a rapper?

In NYC, I don’t recall people ever using a nickname in speech to refer to the city. I do know people who sometimes say “BK” for Brooklyn.

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by 10023

In NYC, I don’t recall people ever using a nickname in speech to refer to the city. I do know people who sometimes say “BK” for Brooklyn.

New Yorkers refer to Manhattan as "the City." Some New Yorkers of a certain age will also use "New York" to refer specifically to Manhattan, but I really only hear that from Baby Boomers and older.

"NYC" is also probably the most common way to refer to the city as a whole, with "the five boroughs" or "the boroughs" being the second most common.

[Pioneer]

To me, The Windy City and Chitown are lame.

I like "Second City" best. If it wasn't such a mouthful, the City of Big Shoulders would be most apt.

[CaliNative]

Originally Posted by Pioneer

To me, The Windy City and Chitown are lame.

I like "Second City" best. If it wasn't such a mouthful, the City of Big Shoulders would be most apt.

I love Chicago, but hasn't L.A. been the "Second City" (in population, not skyscrapers) almost since the 1980 census? And Houston is gaining on you too.

[JManc]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

New Yorkers refer to Manhattan as "the City." Some New Yorkers of a certain age will also use "New York" to refer specifically to Manhattan, but I really only hear that from Baby Boomers and older.

"NYC" is also probably the most common way to refer to the city as a whole, with "the five boroughs" or "the boroughs" being the second most common.

"The City" is pretty common usage throughout Upstate as well for all of NYC. At least outside of Buffalo or Rochester. Although if you mentioned "New York", it is usually assumed you're going to Manhattan as people name the other boroughs specifically.

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by JManc

"The City" is pretty common usage throughout Upstate as well for all of NYC. At least outside of Buffalo or Rochester. Although if you mentioned "New York", it is usually assumed you're going to Manhattan as people name the other boroughs specifically.

Yeah, I meant to add that outside of NYC, but within the area of influence, "the City" refers to all five boroughs. But I think this is pretty common for most big metropolitan areas. In Michigan, going to "the City" means going to Detroit.

[Capsicum]

Originally Posted by JManc

"The City" is pretty common usage throughout Upstate as well for all of NYC. At least outside of Buffalo or Rochester. Although if you mentioned "New York", it is usually assumed you're going to Manhattan as people name the other boroughs specifically.

Does anyone in Upstate New York think of "the city" as Toronto?