These Quirky Minnesota Town Names Will Brighten Your Day

If you’ve lived in Minnesota long enough, you know we have some pretty interesting city names.

Some of them sound so random, it makes you wonder if the people naming those towns had a sense of humor, or if the town name was made with a lot of thought and Minnesota pride. We all know it's the latter.

REAL TOWNS IN MINNESOTA

These are the kinds of town names that make people do a double-take when they see them on a map, but especially give people a good laugh when they drive through.

Here are ten Minnesota town names that sound fake… but absolutely...are not.

1. CLIMAX

Yes, Climax. It IS a real town in Polk County near the North Dakota border. It has fewer than 300 residents and a name that has launched a thousand jokes. Although I don't believe I've ever driven through Climax, I've heard that even the people who live there lean into it with events and signs that make visitors smile.

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2. NOWTHEN

Nowthen is located just north of the Twin Cities in Anoka County. It sounds like something your grandma would say at the start of a story. The name actually comes from “now and then,” meaning a place that felt like it existed between two worlds, rural and growing suburban life.

3. SLEEPY EYE

Sleepy Eye is in south central Minnesota and has one of the most peaceful-sounding names in the state. The town is named after a Dakota chief, Chief Sleepy Eye.

Today, it’s known for murals, small-town charm, and a name that makes it sound like everyone there just woke up from a nap.

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4. FERTILE

Fertile sits in Polk County, and yes, it really is called Fertile. The name was chosen because of the rich farmland surrounding the town. It’s one of those places that sounds like a joke but is actually very practical when you think about it.

5. EMBARRASS

Embarrass is located in northern Minnesota near Tower and is famous for extreme winter temperatures. It once recorded some of the coldest temperatures in the state.

The name came from the French word “embarras,” meaning an obstacle in the river. Still, telling people you’re from Embarrass must never get old.

6. LITTLE CANADA

Just north of St. Paul, you’ll find Little Canada. It sounds like a novelty attraction but it’s a full-fledged city in Ramsey County. The name comes from early French Canadian settlers who made the area their home.

7. GOOD THUNDER

Good Thunder is in Blue Earth County and is named after a Dakota leader. It sounds like a superhero or a rock band, but it’s a quiet southern Minnesota town with deep historical roots.

8. NIMROD

Nimrod is a tiny town in Wadena County with a name that often makes people laugh. In the Bible, Nimrod was a mighty hunter, which is fitting since the area is popular with outdoor enthusiasts. But most of us know that it's what we call someone when they do something stupid. We've all been a Nimrod from time to time, but to live there must make you a TRUE Nimrod.

9. DARWIN

Darwin sits in Meeker County and sounds like it should be in a science textbook instead of Minnesota. It’s a small town with a big name and classic prairie roots. I feel like if you live in Darwin, you must have great intelligence or study all the time.

10. KIESTER

Although we all get a good laugh thinking about falling on our Keister's when we see the city name Kiester, the town was actually named after a County Judge named Jacob Armel Kiester. Apparently, there was even a Preparation H commercial made in Kiester, Minnesota, although I searched for it and could not find it.

MINNESOTA TOWNS ARE FULL OF PERSONALITY

Minnesota is full of towns that prove you don’t need big cities to have a big personality. They’re part of what makes our state so wonderfully Minnesota.