Science, Tech, Math › Science Which Elements Are Named for Places? Print ElementalImaging / Getty Images Science Chemistry Periodic Table Basics Chemical Laws Molecules Projects & Experiments Scientific Method Biochemistry Physical Chemistry Medical Chemistry Chemistry In Everyday Life Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Chemistry Expert Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on August 08, 2019 Read More Elements Named for People: Element Eponyms By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. This is an alphabetical list of element toponyms or elements named for places or regions. Ytterby in Sweden has given its name to four elements: Erbium, Terbium, Ytterbium, and Yttrium. Americium – America, the Americas Berkelium – University of California at Berkeley Californium – State of California and University of California at Berkeley Copper - probably named for Cyprus Darmstadtium – Darmstadt, Germany Dubnium – Dubna, Russia Erbium – Ytterby, a town in Sweden Europium – Europe Francium – France Gallium – Gallia, Latin for France. Also named for Lecoq de Boisbaudran, the element's discoverer (Lecoq in Latin is gallus) Germanium – Germany Hafnium – Hafnia, Latin for Copenhagen Hassium – Hesse, Germany Holmium – Holmia, Latin for Stockholm Lutetium – Lutecia, an ancient name for Paris Magnesium – Magnesia prefecture in Thessaly, Greece Polonium – Poland Rhenium – Rhenus, Latin for the Rhine, a German province Ruthenium – Ruthenia, Latin for Russia Scandium – Scandia, Latin for Scandinavia Strontium – Strontian, a town in Scotland Terbium – Ytterby, Sweden Thulium – Thule, a mythical island in the far north (perhaps in Scandinavia) Ytterbium – Ytterby, Sweden Yttrium – Ytterby, Sweden Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Which Elements Are Named for Places?" ThoughtCo, Aug. 29, 2020, thoughtco.com/which-elements-are-named-for-places-608821. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 29). Which Elements Are Named for Places? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/which-elements-are-named-for-places-608821 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Which Elements Are Named for Places?" ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/which-elements-are-named-for-places-608821 (accessed April 23, 2024). copy citation