#18: Hafnarfjörður (Iceland)
A small fishing town near Reykjavík, once known simply as Hafnar, this community modernized its spelling and name in the early 20th century to reflect Icelandic language reforms. “Hafnarfjörður” (meaning “harbor fjord”) sounds complicated to outsiders, but to Icelanders, it’s natural music.
The update symbolizes how even small towns can evolve with language, keeping history intact while staying alive in modern speech.