Do you know what is the most popular Hungarian street name? Part I

A Czech linguist, Jakub Marian, has collected the most common street names in some European countries. The results may or may not come as a surprise.

The list shows that there are a lot of streets named after schools, churches, and main streets in Europe. For example, in Britain, Ireland, Germany, Spain, and Austria, “Main Street” is among the 3 most popular street names. Moreover, Station Street is also among the 3 most-used street names in Austria, Switzerland, and Great Britain.

And what about Hungary? In Hungary, neither School, nor Church, nor Main Street is in the top five. In Hungary, streets, squares, and bridges are often named after historical and literary figures. In line with this trend, here are the TOP 5 Hungarian street names.

1. Sándor Petőfi

Sándor Petőfi was a poet and national hero. He was one of the most prominent and famous poets in Hungarian literature and also an important figure during the War of Independence of 1848-49. He died very early as he was only 26 years old, but throughout his life, he wrote nearly a thousand poems, many of which were translated to other languages. Romance played a major role in his poetry. A recurring motif in his poems was freedom, love, and beautiful Hungarian landscapes. His most famous works include János Vitéz (John the Valiant) and the National Song.

2. Lajos Kossuth

Lajos Kossuth was also an outstanding figure from the 19th century during the Hungarian War of Independence. Unlike Petőfi, he had a long life; he passed away when he was 91 years old. During his life, he was the Governor of Hungary, the Minister of Finance of Hungary, and the President of the National Defence Committee. In the 1840s, he became the editor of Pesti Hírlap. Kossuth’s name is not only immortalised in street names but also in radio stations, squares, and schools.