List of eponymous streets in New York City facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

New York City is a huge place with many streets and squares. Have you ever wondered how they got their names? Many of them are named after important people! This article will tell you about some of these streets and squares in each part of New York City, like Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.

Manhattan
- Streets
- Squares
The Bronx
Brooklyn
Queens
Staten Island
See also

Manhattan

Streets

Allen Street – Named after Captain William Henry Allen. He was the youngest person to lead a Navy ship in the War of 1812.
Ann Street – Named after Ann White, who was the wife of a developer named Capt. Thomas White.
Astor Place and Astor Row – Named after John Jacob Astor and his family. They owned a lot of land in the city.
Baxter Street – Named after Lt. Col. Charles Baxter. He was a hero in the Mexican War and died in 1849.
Bayard Street and Hester Street – Named after Hester Bayard.
Beach Street – Named after Paul Bache. He was the son-in-law of Anthony Lispenard, who owned land nearby.
Beekman Place, Beekman Street, William Street – Named after Wilhelmus Beekman.
Bleecker Street – Named after Anthony Bleecker (1770–1827). He was a lawyer, poet, and friend of famous writers like Washington Irving. The street went through his farm.
Bogardus Place – Named after the Bogardus family, including Everardus Bogardus and James Bogardus.
Bond Street – Named after William Bond, a city surveyor.
Broome Street – Named after John Broome. He was a lieutenant governor of New York.
Cabrini Boulevard – Named after Mother Cabrini. She was a saint known for helping immigrants.
Catherine Street – Named after Catherine Rutgers, wife of Hendrick Rutgers and mother of Henry Rutgers.
Charles Street – Named after Charles Christopher Amos, a landowner.
Christopher Street – Also named after Charles Christopher Amos. Before 1799, it was called Skinner Road.
Chrystie Street – Named after Col. John Chrystie, a soldier from the War of 1812.
Clinton Street – Named after George Clinton. He was a general in the Revolutionary War and the first governor of New York State.
Cortlandt Street – Named after the Cortlandt family, who owned land there.
Delancey Street – Named after James De Lancey. He was a chief justice and acting governor of New York. He owned a farm in the Lower East Side.
Frederick Douglass Boulevard – Named after Frederick Douglass. He was a famous African American leader, speaker, and writer who fought against slavery.
Doyers Street – Named after Hendrik Doyer. He was a Dutch immigrant who bought land in the area in 1791.
Dyckman Street – Named after William Dyckman, a Dutch farmer. His family owned over 250 acres of farmland. The Dyckman House is the oldest farmhouse still standing in Manhattan.
Eldridge Street – Named after Lt. Joseph C. Eldridge, who died in the War of 1812.
Elizabeth Street – Named after Elizabeth Rynders.
Forsyth Street – Named after Lt. Col. Benjamin Forsyth.
Fulton Street – Named after Robert Fulton. He invented the first successful steamboat.
Gansevoort Street – Named after Peter Gansevoort. He was a hero in the Revolutionary War.
Gay Street – Possibly named after "R. Gay."
Gold Street – Named after Nathan Gold. He was a colonial leader and deputy governor of Connecticut.
Gouverneur Street – Named after Abraham Gouverneur. He was a French immigrant and political activist in New York.
Great Jones Street – Named after Samuel Jones. He was known as "The Father of The New York Bar."
Henry Street – Named after Henry Rutgers, a hero from the American Revolutionary War.
Houston Street – Named after William Houstoun, one of America's Founding Fathers.
Hudson Street – Named after Henry Hudson. He was an English explorer who explored parts of North America. It's also named after the Hudson River.
Irving Place – Named after Washington Irving. He was a famous American writer known for stories like The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
James Street and Saint James Place – Named after St. James the Greater, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus.
Jefferson Street – Named after Thomas Jefferson. He was the third president of the United States and wrote the Declaration of Independence.
John Street – Named after John Haberdinck, a rich Dutch shoemaker.
Jones Street – Named after Doctor Gardner Jones.
Peter Jennings Way – Named after Peter Jennings, a well-known ABC News anchor.
Juan Pablo Duarte Boulevard (part of Saint Nicholas Avenue) – Named after Juan Pablo Duarte. He was a founding father of the Dominican Republic.
Lafayette Street – Named after Marquis de Lafayette. He was a French hero who helped America in the American Revolutionary War.
LaGuardia Place – Named after Fiorello LaGuardia, a famous Mayor of New York City.
La Salle Street – Named after Jean-Baptiste de La Salle. He was a French priest who started schools.
Leonard Street – Named after Col. Leonard Lispenard. He was a merchant, politician, and landowner in New York City.
Lenox Avenue – Named after James Lenox, a generous person who gave money to good causes.
Lispenard Street – Named after Anthony Lispenard Bleecker. He was a rich banker and merchant.
Ludlow Street – Named after Augustus Ludlow, a naval hero from the War of 1812.
MacDougal Street – Named after Alexander McDougall, a hero from the Revolutionary War.
Madison Avenue and Madison Street – Named after James Madison, the fourth president of the United States.
Malcolm X Boulevard (also called Lenox Avenue) – Named after Malcolm X, a famous American human rights activist.
Mercer Street – Named after Hugh Mercer, a figure from the American Revolutionary War.
Mott Street – Named after Joseph Mott. He was a butcher who helped the rebel forces in the American Revolution.
Nassau Street – Named after William of Nassau.
North Moore Street – Named after Benjamin Moore (bishop). He was the second Episcopal bishop of New York and president of Columbia University.
Rivington Street – Named after James Rivington, a publisher during the Revolutionary War.
Rutgers Street – Named after Henry Rutgers, a hero from the American Revolutionary War.
Saint Nicholas Avenue – Named after Saint Nicholas.
Stanton Street – Named after George Stanton, who worked with landowner James De Lancey.
Stuyvesant Street – Named after Peter Stuyvesant. He was the last governor of New Netherland and owned the land.
Sullivan Street – Named after John Sullivan, a general in the American Revolutionary War.
Thompson Street – Named after William Thompson, a Revolutionary War general.
Vanderbilt Avenue – Named after the Vanderbilt family. They owned Grand Central Terminal.
Varick Street – Named after Richard Varick. He was a figure in the American Revolutionary War and a Mayor of New York City.
Vesey Street – Named after Rev. William Vesey.
Walker Street – Named after Benjamin Walker (1753-1818), an officer in the Revolutionary War.
Washington Street – Named after George Washington, the first president of the United States.
William Street – Named after Wilhelmus Beekman.
Wooster Street – Named after David Wooster, an American Revolutionary War hero.
Worth Street – Named after William J. Worth. He was an American officer in several wars, including the War of 1812.
Vandam Street – Named after Anthony Van Dam. He was a wine dealer who was active in community affairs.

Squares

Chatham Square – Named after William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham. He was a Prime Minister of Great Britain.
Duffy Square – Named after Chaplain Francis P. Duffy from New York's 69th Infantry Regiment.
Hanover Square – Named after the House of Hanover, a royal family.
Herald Square – Named after the New York Herald newspaper.
Lincoln Square – Named after a local landowner.
Madison Square – Named after James Madison, the fourth President of the United States.
Times Square – Named after The New York Times newspaper.
Tompkins Square Park – Named after Daniel D. Tompkins (1774–1825), who was a Vice President of the United States.
Verdi Square – Named after Giuseppe Verdi, a famous Italian composer.
Washington Square Park – Named after George Washington.
Worth Square – Named after William J. Worth.

The Bronx

Allerton Avenue – Named after Daniel Allerton. He was an early settler in the Bronx who farmed this area.
Bainbridge Avenue – Named after William Bainbridge. He was a Commodore in the United States Navy and won many battles at sea.
Bartow Avenue – Named after John Bartow, a missionary.
Bruckner Boulevard and Bruckner Expressway – Named after Henry Bruckner. He was a politician and a longtime leader of the Bronx borough.
Corsa Avenue – Named after Andrew Corsa. He led American and French troops to look at British forts.
Deputy Chief Orio J. Palmer Way – Named after Orio Palmer. He was a Battalion Chief in the New York City Fire Department who died helping people on September 11, 2001.
Detective Sean Carrington Way – Named after Sean Carrington. He was a New York City Police Department detective who was killed in 1998.
DJ Scott La Rock Boulevard – Named after Scott La Rock. He was a social worker, hip hop DJ, and music producer who was killed in 1987.
Donald Byrd Way – Named after Donald Byrd, a jazz trumpeter and singer.
Elias Karmon Way – Named after Elias Karmon. He was a generous person who owned many businesses in the Bronx and helped many causes.
Elmo Hope Way – Named after Elmo Hope, a jazz pianist and composer.
Emmanuel Mensah Way – Named after Emmanuel Mensah. He was a National Guardsman who died trying to save children from a fire in 2017.
Hillman Avenue – Named after Sidney Hillman (1887–1946), a leader for workers' rights.
Hull Ave – Named after Isaac Hull. He was a Commodore in the United States Navy and commanded famous ships like USS Constitution.
Major Deegan Expressway – Named after William Francis Deegan. He was an architect, a major in the Army Corps of Engineers, and a political leader.
Perry Avenue – Named after Oliver Hazard Perry. He was a U.S. Naval officer known for his heroic role in the War of 1812.
Rivera Avenue – Named after Mariano Rivera. He was a famous baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees.
Rose Feiss Boulevard – Named after Rose Feiss. She started a lampshade company in the Bronx.
Seabury Avenue – Named after Samuel Seabury, the first Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of America.
Sheridan Avenue – Named after Philip Sheridan, an American Civil War general.
Southern Boulevard (used to be Theodore Kazimiroff Boulevard) – Named after Theodore Kazimiroff. He was a Bronx historian. His name was later removed because he wasn't well known.
Hugh J. Grant Circle – Named after Hugh J. Grant, who was the 88th mayor of New York City.
Van Cortlandt Avenue – Named after Jacobus Van Cortlandt. He was a rich merchant and politician who served as Mayor of New York City.

Brooklyn

Albee Square – Named after Edward Franklin Albee II.
Adams Street – Named after John Adams, who was a U.S. President.
Bergen Street – Named after Hans Hansen Bergen.
Bond Street – Named after William Bond.
Boyland Street – Named after Thomas S. Boyland.
Bainbridge Street – Named after William Bainbridge.
Cadman Plaza – Named after Samuel Parkes Cadman.
Chauncey Street – Named after Issac Chauncey.
Clark Street – Named after Lewis Clark.
Clinton Avenue and Clinton Street – Named after Dewitt Clinton.
Cropsey Avenue – Named after the Cropsey family.
Decatur Street – Named after Stephen Decatur, Jr..
DeKalb Avenue – Named after Johann de Kalb.
Doughty Street – Named after Charles Doughty.
Duffield Street – Named after John Duffield.
Elizabeth Place – Named after Elizabeth Cornell.
Fulton Street – Named after Robert Fulton, who invented the steamboat.
Franklin Avenue – Named after Benjamin Franklin, a Founding Father.
Furman Street – Named after Richard Furman.
Gates Avenue – Named after Horatio Lloyd Gates.
Gold Street – Named after Nathan Gold.
Greene Avenue – Named after Nathanael Greene.
Halsey Street – Named after James M. Halsey.
Hancock Street – Named after John Hancock.
Henry Street – Named after Dr. Thomas Henry.
Herzl Street – Named after Theodor Herzl.
Hicks Street – Named after John and Jacob Hicks.
Hoyt Street – Named after Jesse Hoyt.
Hunts Lane – Named after John Hunt.
Jay Street – Named after John Jay.
Joralemon Street – Named after Tumis Joralemon.
Lafayette Avenue – Named after Marquis de Lafayette, a French hero.
Lawrence Street – Named after William Beach Lawrence.
Lewis Avenue – Named after Morgan Lewis.
Linden Boulevard – Named after Pierre Léonard Vander Linden.
Livingston Street – Named after Philip Livingston.
MacDonough Street – Named after Thomas MacDonough.
Macon Street – Named after Nathaniel Macon.
Madison Street – Named after James Madison, a U.S. President.
Malcolm X Boulevard – Named after Reverend Malcolm X.
McGuinness Boulevard – Named after Peter McGuinness.
Monroe Street and Monroe Place – Named after James Monroe, a U.S. President.
Montague Street – Named after Lady Mary Wortley Montagu.
Nevins Street – Named after Russell H. Nevins.
Nostrand Avenue – Named after Gerret Noorstrandt.
Pierrepont Street and Pierrepont Place – Named after Hezekiah Pierrepont.
Remsen Street and Remsen Avenue – Named after Henry Remsen.
Sackett Street – Named after Samuel Sackett.
Schermerhorn Street – Named after Peter Schermerhorn.
Sidney Place – Named after Sir Philip Sidney.
Smith Street – Named after Samuel Smith.
Tilden Avenue – Named after Samuel J. Tilden.
Tillary Street – Named after James Tillary.
Vanderbilt Avenue – Named after the Vanderbilt family.
Warren Street – Named after John Earl Warren Jr.
Washington Avenue – Named after George Washington, the first U.S. President.
Willoughby Avenue and Willoughby Street – Named after Samuel Willoughby.

Queens

Francis Lewis Boulevard – Named after Francis Lewis. He lived in Queens and signed the Declaration of Independence.
Guillermo Vasquez Corner – Named after Guillermo Vasquez. He was a leader for gay rights and the Latino community in Queens.
Jackie Robinson Parkway – Named after Jackie Robinson, a famous Major League Baseball player.
Roosevelt Avenue – Named after Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States.
Steinway Street – Named after the Steinway family, who make famous pianos. Their factory is in Astoria, where this street runs.
Seaver Way – Named after Tom Seaver. He was a famous baseball pitcher for the New York Mets.
Van Wyck Expressway (used to be Van Wyck Boulevard) – Named after Robert Anderson Van Wyck. He was the first mayor of New York City after all five boroughs joined together.

Staten Island

Father Capodanno Boulevard – Named after Vincent R. Capodanno. He was killed while serving in the Vietnam War.
Hylan Boulevard – Named after John F. Hylan, who was a Mayor of New York City.