When you stroll through Paris, it's easy to get swept up in the beauty of the boulevards, the charm of the cobblestone alleys, and the elegance of the architecture. But look up—just above eye level—and you’ll find another layer of the city’s soul: the street names.
We at 56Paris know well that a street name in Paris can say more than just where you live—it can say something about the city's past, its people, and even its soul.
Paris boasts more than 6,500 streets, squares, avenues, and alleys, each with its own distinct name and often a fascinating story. While many of these names may sound poetic or peculiar, they often reflect centuries of Parisian history, politics, and urban legends. Some streets hint at old trades or local characters. Others honor monarchs or military victories, or preserve darker tales of torture and rebellion.
If you're considering buying property in Paris—or simply want to understand the city more deeply—it’s worth learning how Parisian streets got their names. Because here, even the signs are storytellers.
A Timeline of Paris Street Names: From Parchment to Personalities
Paris has never stopped building, expanding, or evolving. Over the centuries, roads have been rerouted, renamed, or replaced. But the practice of naming these roads reveals a lot about the changing nature of Parisian society.
The Medieval Origins: Practical, Descriptive, and Local
In the Middle Ages, street names were utilitarian. They often referenced nearby landmarks, trades, religious institutions, or even local tavern signs—especially helpful in a largely illiterate society. Some examples:
Rue des Rosiers – named after rose bushes that once grew there.
Rue des Boulangers – the street of the bakers.
Rue de la Parcheminerie – named for the parchment-makers who once operated in the area.
Rue des Mauvais-Garçons – the “Bad Boys Street,” once home to criminals and brigands.
Rue du Chat-qui-Pêche – “Street of the Fishing Cat,” named after a tavern sign (and perhaps a legendary cat who fished in the Seine!).
We recently sold a property on the rue Vineuse, named for the vineyards tended by the monks of the Minimes monastery of Passy (now a neighborhood in the 16th arrondissement), which produced a wine appreciated by King Louis XIII.
Street signs in the Middle Ages often displayed visual symbols—a fox preaching, a cat fishing—making them recognizable to all. These images sometimes became so iconic that the streets themselves were named after them.
Many of the most unusual and evocative street names in Paris originate from this era, when names mirrored the city’s social, architectural, and geographical character.
The 17th Century: Streets Begin to Celebrate People and Events
A major shift began in the early 1600s under Henry IV. Streets were no longer named solely for orientation or description—they became a way to honor individuals and celebrate events.
Place Dauphine (1607) was one of the first named after a royal figure—Louis XIII, then Dauphin of France.
Gradually, names referencing battles, royal families, and foreign cities became more common—Rue de Nancy, Boulevard de Strasbourg, or Place de Wagram, for instance. We have two properties on rue de Lille, which references another French city. And another is on rue de Beauce, which was part of Henry IV’s mission to name streets after the regions of France.
This trend continued into the 19th and 20th centuries, when naming became a more political and commemorative exercise. Streets began honoring:
Writers (440 streets),
Politicians (596),
Military figures (256),
Poets (231),
Painters (218).
Famous figures like Victor Hugo, Georges-Eugène Haussmann, George Sand, and Camille Claudel began appearing on street signs, permanently etched into the Parisian landscape. One of our current properties is on rue Descartes in the Latin Quarter. It would be difficult to find a more French street address than that!
Women in the Streets: A Growing Movement for Representation
Until recently, women were vastly underrepresented in Parisian street names. Of the 2,400 streets named after a person, only 6% honored women. But that's changing.
The City of Paris has committed to redressing the imbalance. In recent years, up to 75% of new naming proposals have been for female figures, spanning science, arts, sports, activism, and beyond.
Some notable additions include:
Place Juliette-Gréco (6th arrondissement)
Promenade Gisèle-Halimi (7th)
Virginia Woolf Library (13th)
Theatre de la Ville – Sarah Bernhardt (Paris Centre)
Bernadette Lafont footbridge (10th)
We currently have a property for sale in the 16th arrodissement, for example, on avenue Georges-Mandel, just opposite the Allée Maria Callas.
From footbridges to gardens and schools, Paris is slowly but surely rewriting its map—and its memory—to be more inclusive.
A Few Streets With Stories to Tell
Rue du Chat-qui-Pêche (Street of the Fishing Cat)
Paris’s narrowest street (just 1.80 meters wide) is also one of its most legendary. Named after a tavern sign—and possibly a magical, fish-catching feline—this tiny alley captures the whimsical side of old Paris.
Rue des Mauvais-Garçons (Bad Boys Street)
Located in the Marais, this narrow street was once home to brigands and thugs who terrorized locals in the Middle Ages. Today, it's charming and safe, but its name remains a cheeky nod to its darker past.
Place de l’Estrapade
This elegant square hides a brutal history. Its name comes from the estrapade, a method of torture once used here on soldiers and Protestant dissenters. Abolished by Louis XVI in 1776, the practice is long gone—but the name lingers as a haunting reminder.
Rue du Cherche-Midi (Find Noon Street)
A puzzling name, until you know the backstory: it refers to a sundial sign from the Renaissance and a French expression chercher midi à quatorze heures—to make something unnecessarily complicated.
Boulevard de Bonne Nouvelle (Good News Boulevard)
The "good news" actually refers to the nearby church, Notre-Dame de la Bonne-Nouvelle, named in honor of the announcement of Christ’s birth.
Rue des Frigos (Fridges Street)
Modern Paris meets industrial history here. Located in the 13th arrondissement, this street still houses municipal refrigerated storage units that gave it its name.
Rue de Paradis and Rue de l’Enfer (Heaven and Hell Streets)
Yes, Paris really does have a street named “Paradise” and one formerly named “Hell.” These names, possibly chosen to reflect each other, hint at the poetic tendencies of past planners. (Though, for the record, Rue de l’Enfer has since been renamed to the rue Bleue.)
Rue du Puits-qui-Parle (The Well-That-Speaks Street)
According to legend, a well here once whispered answers to locals’ questions. Though long gone, the legend lives on—and so does the street name.
Paris Streets: A Living Map of the City’s Soul
Understanding the stories behind Paris’s street names is like reading a living, walkable history book. Whether it’s a tale of revolution, religion, romance, or cats, these names are part of what makes Paris feel alive. When you move into a home in Paris, you're not just getting a beautiful address—you might also be inheriting a story centuries in the making.
For property buyers in Paris, it adds another layer of meaning to your address. When you move into a Paris apartment, you’re not just gaining a home—you’re becoming part of a rich and evolving story.
Looking to Buy in Paris? Let the Street Be Part of the Story
At 56Paris, we can help you find not only the perfect property—but the perfect street, too. Whether you dream of living on a boulevard of good news, a literary lane, or a quiet corner with a mysterious past, we’ll help you find your place in the City of Light.
Contact us today to begin your journey into the heart of Paris.
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