Out of 2,323,627 street names, “High Street” is the most popular name with a frequency of 16593 followed by “Station Road” and “Main Street” with 11521 and 7623 entries respectively. In the US, Second Street is most common with 10,866 streets. Main Street is most common residential street name to live on.
Most Common Street Names
Overall, top 10 street names in the US:
- Main Street
- 2nd Street
- Park Street
- Oak Street
- Maple Street
- Cedar Street
- Elm Street
- View Street
- Washington Street
- Jefferson Street.
The most common street names vary by country and region. In Europe, some examples are "Church Street", "Mill Street", and "School Street". In the United States, the top 10 most common street names are Main Street, 2nd Street, 3rd Street, 4th Street, 5th Street, 6th Street, 7th Street, 1st Street, 8th Street, and 9th Street.
While street names can indicate history and culture of an area, naming conventions are also important for businesses contacting customers and emergency services locating addresses. The ubiquity yet uniqueness of certain street names across regions reveals interplay of practicality and whimsy in shaping the urban landscape.
Why Second Street is Common
According to the National League of Cities, the most popular street name is Second (or 2nd). This is often because what would have been First is instead designated as Main or something similar, like Broadway. Streets are also commonly named for current or former landmarks (Windmill View Road, El Cajon, CA), American presidents (especially Washington) and famous people who were born in the area.
In many older cities, the establishment of streets often followed a grid pattern leading to a systematic approach in numbering streets and the high occurrence of Second Street.
- Some funny street names are Dingleberry Road, Butt Hole Road, Chicken Dinner Road, Crotch Crescent, Hooker Street, and Farfrompoopen Road.
- Circles usually encircle a vicinity but may also constitute open areas with multiple intersecting roads.
I remember reading first street used to be the most popular before cities renamed them to be more distinctive. When did Second Street overtake Main Street as the most popular name?