How These 10 Lebanese Towns Got Their Names

Ever wonder how some towns and villages got their names? Check these ten explanations out!

1. Aley

This charming village gets its name from Aramaic; it means the “high place” in reference to its altitude above sea level.

2. Bikfaya

A Syriac name that means for “Bet Kiifa” meaning “the place of the rocks” in reference to the town’s terrain.

3. Kawkaba

The Syriac name for “planet” or “star”.

4. Qornayel

Syriac qarna d ila meaning “the summit of god”.

5. Sawfar

The Syriac word for morning or bird – Sephro/Saphro.

6. Masghara

Derived from Phoenician, meaning a place from where the water flows.

7. Kfardebbiane

Kfardebiane is divided into two parts: Kfar, a Syriac word that means small village; and Debiane which is another Syriac word for deer, thus Kfardebiane is the village of deers.

8. Jaj

Phoenician for the summit, since Jaj is the most elevated village among all the surrounding towns.

9. Falougha

Syriac origin, “Palugha” meaning the distributor.

10. Ferzol

This word ‘Ferzol’ is derived from Aramaic “Ferza-el”, which means “God’s place” or “God’s dwelling”.

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