Big 4 Teams' Name Origins

The name is a reference to the strong Disney presence of the area

They are named this because they come from the "Land of 10,000"

The name is to reference how physically fit its players are

The team is named after the uniforms that Union Army soldiers wore

The team's name was changed after 87 years, to a name that would exemplify the "gravitoss" of a nearly 90 year old franchise

The name is a nod to the mining tradition, specifically gold, in the area

The team is a reference to their location in Canada, and the French people in the area

The name is a connection to the inhabitants of its city and how "Phanatic" they are

The name was chosen off of the popularity of a dinosaur-themed movie that had come out that year

The team is named after a "precise and cutting sword"

It's either an homage to the city's beef packing or it's half of an exclamation at all of the other name choices

The team is named after its areas Native American heritage, but also the courage of its players

The team had been called the Royals, but wanted an even more regal name

The team is a reference to its national flag

It's a reference to the wild horses in the area, but also represents the "flamboyant Texan lifestyle"

This team was originally called the "Senors" for six years, but the Oakland Tribune successfully rallied for a name change

The team is named after a Native American figure from the area that fought in several wars

The name is a reference to the team's location in Washington DC

The team is named after a "fearsome brown bear"

The team name is a reference to the booming space industry in its city

This team was going to be the "Panthers", but eventually named their team after their legendary first head coach

The team's name is a nod to its location in Canada's capital

This team name honors the area's longstanding tradition of the production of steel mills

The team's name and logo are heavily inspired by Army's sports teams

The team is named after its strikingly orange state bird

The team is named after the state bird (the team was going to be named after Mardi Gras)

This name honors the history of ranchers in the Texas area

The team was going to be the Mounties, but ended up choosing a large mammal native to Canada

This team is named after a combination of the wild dogs in the area and of the rich lumber history

This team is called this because of the way that their players "gallop" down the field

The name pays homage to its northwest location and the birds that you will see flying over the bay

Named after a junior hockey team that the owner had played for, and also honored the auto industry

Named after a wild dog that lives in this desert area

This team is named after a popular chant at sports games... "CHARGE!"

Named after a natural disaster that can occur in the mountainous regions where this team is located

The team is named after the original UChicago jerseys it wore, which were a maroon shade of this color

Named after the "sleekness and speed" that the team shows on the ice

Named after the nature of the animals in the wilderness in this state

The team was going to be named after the area's baseball team, but they decided on a more fitting name for the bigger football players

The team carries the same name as that of the most famous work of a poet who lived in this town

This name is founded on state pride, and is meant to represent "you, the people" of the team's home state

The team's name is a reference to a nickname given to its city and a neighboring city

They are called this animal because it is the "fastest and smartest animal in the sea"

The mayor of the city when this team moved in had this Native American nickname

The name is a reference to the Mexican friars that founded the city

This name is an homage to the area's Scandinavian culture

The team is named after the rolled-up pants that Dutch settlers in the area wore in the 1600s

The name is a reference to the team's location and its American importance

Named after the rich musical history that is present in this city

The name is a shortening of a name given to people that live in big cities

The name is a reference to the automotive industry in its city

The name is an homage to the Gold Rush and the people that travelled west

The team is named this after "valiant swordsman who fight until the end and never surrender"

Named after the remains of a sabretooth tiger found underneath the site of the arena

The name is a reference to the marine life of the area, specifically this stinging creature

The team's owner was a fan of Fordham University, and stole their mascot name

The team is named after its proximity to LaGuardia Airport

Named after their original location, Long Island

The name is a reference to an elite group of policemen that roam the area on horseback

The team is named after the baseball team there at the time (that baseball team moved west)

The team is named in honor of a beautiful bird that is native to this northern area

The name was picked to make this team feel "large and imposing" on the diamond

This team was named after the fires left in Atlanta after the Civil War; they have since left Atlanta

The team shares its name with a basketball team that used to play in this area, before moving to Sacramento

The name is a reference to the maritime history of the region (Not Jose Fernandez)

The name is a reference to Lewis & Clark, whose stopping point was in this area

The old name was cancelled for relations to gun violence, and the new name was criticized as a reference to the KKK

The team was named after the musical history of New Orleans, but then left New Orleans

The team is named this because of how hot it is there

This team is named for the propensity of thunderstorms that happen in the city

The team is named this because of the history of deer hunting in the area

This baseball team wanted to sound "tough and aggressive, but unpredictable"

The name is a reference to a mountain range that goes through its city

The team is named after FDR's New Deal, specifically the animal on the National Recovery Act's logo

The team is named after the state bird, but also Catholic history

The team wanted a cool name that represented "the team starting to catch fire"

This team is named after these natural disasters that are frequent in the area

The team name is a reference to a travelling sharpshooter who travelled the Wild West

This team is named after a mythological creature that is said to live in the area

The mascot is described as "proud and dignified with great courage and fight. It never drops its prey. It is deadly and has a great sporting tradition."

Represents the musical heritage of the area, specifically a song performed famously by Louis Armstrong

The team wanted to represent "5 brave men, going to war"

This team chose their name because they wanted be "hockey royalty"

The name is based off of the fact that their arena is called "The Igloo"

The team is named after a Revolutionary War officer calling the city "a hornet's nest of rebellion"

The name conveys the way that their players "fly" down the ice

The team is named after two statues that seem to guard the entranceway to this baseball team's stadium

There is a history of this big cat living in the area, and the owner wanted the team to have black as a main color

The team was named after the spacecraft production in the area at the time

The team is a reference to the signing of the Declaration of Independence in its city

This name reflects the oil drilling traditions in Alberta

The name is to honor the area's pivotal role in creating the United States of America

The team is named after this northern area's boating and whaling traditions

The team is named after a nickname for Union soldiers in the Civil War

The team is a reference to the town's nickname "The Athens of the South"

The team is named after a now-endangered big cat that roams the team's area

The team is named after the footwear that the team was famous for wearing

The team's name is a reference to the color of uniform that they originally wore

The name of the team is inspired by a very popular sports movie

The team wanted a "fearsome big cat" as their mascot, and alliteration didn't hurt

The team is also named after footwear, but a much lighter color

The team was named after the hockey team in the area, but when they moved, the "Black" at the beginning was removed

The team's owner, who moved them from Seattle in 1946, was a big fan of horseracing, so he named his team after a type of racing horse

The team was called the "Northstars" in Minnesota, but changed their name to reflect their new home's state flag

The name comes from marine life in the nearby Pacific Ocean

The team is named this because of the team's youth, but aggressiveness, and because the owner's child thought the mascot was cute

The name is a reference to the influx of Irish immigrants in the area shortly before the team was created

The team name comes from a nickname for Canadian people

The team is named after the rich tradition of beer production in its city

The team is named after people in its city who would stand in front of trolley cars and then jump out of the way at the last second

The team is named after a venomous creature native to the area

The name is inspired by a mythical sea creature

The name is a reference to the storm-like sound of the arena when the fans are loud

The name is a reference to a type of ship, not anything about haircuts

The team was named after the "tiger stripes" on their uniforms caused by grass stains at the end of games

The team is named after a "cat-like" aggressive style of play

The team is named after a holy nickname for the city it plays in

The team is named after a popular accessory of cowboys in the area

The name is a reference to the meatpacking industry, prevalent in the area

The name is a reference to Blackbeard and other swashbucklers that patrolled the area in the 1700s

Upon arriving in their city, the team wanted to fit the "big cat name" theme of the baseball team

The team is named after a basketball item, which rhymes with two other teams in its area

The team's first owner, named Tex, gave the team this name because it sounded like "Tex's _____"

A reference to a big NASCAR race that takes place in the city every year