A Name Like No Other

A Name Like No Other:
I-N-D-I-A-N-A-P-O-L-I-S

One of the most ludicrous acts, however, of the sojourners at Corydon, was their name the new seat of state government. Such a name, kind readers, you would never find by searching from Dan to Beersheba; nor in all the libraries, museums and patent offices of the world. It is like nothing in heaven nor on earth, nor in the waters under the earth. It is not a name for man, woman, or child; for empire, city, mountain, or morass; for bird, beast, fish nor creeping thing; and nothing mortal or immortal could have thought of it, except the wise men of the East who were gathered at Corydon. It is composed of the following letters:

I-N-D-I-A-N-A-P-O-L-I-S.

Pronounce it as you please, gentle readers — you can do it as you wish — there is no danger of violating any system or rule, either in accent, cadence or emphasis — suit your own convenience and be thankful you are enabled to do it, by this rare genius of of the age. For this title your future capital will be greatly endebted, either to some learned Hebraist, some venerable Grecian, some sage and sentimental Brahmin, or some profound and academic Pauttowattomie.

According to Greater Indianapolis, originally published in 1910, The Indiana Centinel newpaper (published in Vincennes) had favored the name 'Tecumseh' and was quite unhappy at the name's rejection.

'Indianapolis' was the suggestion of Judge Jeremiah Sullivan of Madison, who recounts the three-day long debate over choosing the name in the legislature in Corydon:

A blank of course, was left for the name of the town that was to become the seat of government, and during the two or three days we spend in endeavoring to fill the blank there was in the debate some sharpness and much amusement. General Marston G. Clark , of Washington County, proposed Tecumseh as the name, and very earnestly insisted upon it's adoption. When it failed, he suggested other Indian names, which I have forgotten. They were all rejected. A member proposed 'Suwarrow,' which met with no favor. Other names were proposed, discussed, laughed at, and voted down, and the house without coming to any agreement adjourned to the next day. There were many amusing things said, but my remembrance of them is not sufficiently distinct to state them with any accuracy.

...

When the House met and went into convention on the bill, I moved to fill the blank with Indianapolis. The name created quite a laugh. Mr. Merrill, however seconded the motion. We discussed the matter fully; game our reasons in support of the proposition; the members conversed with each other informally in regard to it, and the name gradually commended itself to the committee, and was accepted. The principal reason given in favor of adopting the the name proposed, towit; that the Greek termination would indicated to all the world the locality of the town, was, I am sure, the reason that overcame the opposition to the name. The town was finally named Indianapolis, with but little, if any, opposition.

In all, I think it's better that the original Native American name for our city -- 'Chanktunoongi,' which Greater Indianapolis indicates meant "Makes-a-Noise-Place." And you can't beat the fact that our city name was the answer to a "Fill in the blank" question.