Some towns and cities have pretty obvious names. They're probably named after a geographic feature, or after the person who founded it. But what about the Maryland towns with iconic or unusual names? Well, we're here to break it down for you. Here's where a few Maryland spots got their names.

Rising Sun

This small Cecil County town has a pretty name that originally came from a tavern! In the 1720s, an enterprising colonist created a place for folks to stop and have a drink, and he named the tavern the Rising Sun. When the area became more developed, the iconic watering hole gave the town its new official name.

Frostburg

Yes, this college town tends to be a bit colder than the rest of the state, but that's not why it got its frosty name. Instead, the city, which was previously called Mount Pleasant, was named for the Frost family. Mesach and Catherine Frost were considered the first residents back in 1812, and quickly became a bedroom community for local coal miners.

Annapolis

The city's name literally translates to 'Anne's City', but who was Anne? Princess Anne, who later ruled as Queen of England in the early 1700's, is the one who gave this city its name. Formerly, the city was called Providence, but we think Annapolis is a lot more distinctive. 

Mardela Springs

This spot actually does boast mineral springs, which were a tourist attraction back in the 1800s! But where does 'Mardela' come from? Two states -- Maryland and Delaware, which sits right next door to the area. 

Baltimore

We all know Baltimore, but do you know who the person who gave it the name Baltimore actually was? You might be surprised to learn it's not a last name -- instead, it comes from Cecil Calvert (yes, who the counties were named for), who was the Lord of Baltimore in Ireland. If you pack your bags and head to Ireland, you might come across the original Baltimore land.

Accident

How does a town get such an unfortunate name? Well, two surveyors in the late 1700s supposedly both claimed the land, and upon realizing the mistake, led to it being called Accident. Thankfully, it's got nothing to do with car accidents!