1663: Exonyms and Tzarfat Jul 4, 2019

While there are a number of odd exonyms, i.e. names for places not akin to the native name (particularly with the multitude of names for Germany), usually there at least is some similarity or historical connection. With 'Japan', which in Japanese is Nihon, it comes from the older alternative form 'Nippon' for instance. Some places are not even close to the mark though, such as the Hebrew name for France, 'Tzarfat' (צרפת) which comes from the name of the Phoenician city Sarepta. However, this was a site in what is now Lebanon.

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