Top 10 Things with the Most Misleading Names

There are several lists about different kinds of things that have misleading names: animals, music artists, movies, and so on. However, I realized that there was no list of things in general that had misleading names.

So yes, anything goes here. Animals, places, and music can all be included, as long as you can explain why the name is misleading.

The Top Ten
  1. French Fries

    French fries are served hot, either soft or crispy, and are commonly eaten as part of lunch or dinner or as a snack on their own. They frequently appear on fast food menus around the world.

    In the United States, fries are usually salted and served with ketchup. In other countries, they are often... read more

    They should call them Belgian Fries since they came from Belgium and not France.

    They're from Belgium, not France.

  2. Greenland

    Greenland is an island country that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Greenland is the world's largest island and one of the three constituent countries of the Kingdom of Denmark, alongside Denmark and the... read more

    I have heard it was actually misleading on purpose because they wanted people to go there.

    This is so ironic. Greenland is icy, while Iceland is not. This is so funny.

    You could say the grass is not green over there.

  3. American Football

    Almost the entire game is spent with the ball in their hands.

    Honorable mentions on this list go to Rugby Football and Australian Rules Football. However, I chose American Football because these other sports do involve the feet a bit more. Additionally, the term football is becoming less used in these sports, as they are usually just called Rugby or Aussie Rules.

  4. Nothing Can Shake Me (From Your Love) - Survivor

  5. Public Schools in England

    These are actually schools that you have to pay to attend, or what the rest of the world would call private schools.

  6. Iceland

    Iceland is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Its capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with surrounding municipalities) is home to over 65% of the country's population. Iceland is the only part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge... read more

    Same with Greenland. Iceland is not icy, while Greenland is icy. Funniest names ever. They need to swap their names.

  7. The United States of America

    This is the most misleading country ever. How is America united when they don't unite with other countries in both North America and South America? So, the real united states is the whole continent of the Americas.

    I find it funny because people from the US refer to themselves as "Americans" when the USA is the United States in North America (or just the Americas).

    "The Divided States of America" is more like it.

  8. Toad (Super Mario)

    Toad, known in Japan as Kinopio, is a major character in the Mario Bros. franchise. He assists Princess Peach in the Mushroom Kingdom and first appeared in Super Mario Bros. (1985). Toad is a recurring character in many Mario games, including New Super Mario Bros., Super Mario 3D World, Captain Toad... read more

  9. Double Stuffed Oreos

  10. Rhode Island

    Rhode Island, officially the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, is a state in the New England region of the United States. Despite its long official name, it is the smallest state by area. It is known for its coastal towns, maritime history, and Ivy League university, Brown University... read more

  11. The Newcomers
  12. ?

    Christian Democratic Union of Germany

    This party has more support from atheists than from Christians. In fact, the most Christian state of Germany, Saarland, is the state where the CDU is relatively weak.

  13. ?

    Kansas City

    Most of it is in Missouri, not Kansas.

  14. The Contenders
  15. The Western World

    Many of the countries that are considered Western countries are not geographically in the Western part of the world. My country is about as far East as you can get but is still called a Western country.

  16. Jumbo Shrimp

    Can someone explain this one? Is it because shrimp also implies small, making it an oxymoron?

  17. The American Midwest

    This would seem to imply the middle of the Western United States, but this region is actually midway between East and West and primarily in the more northern part of the country.

  18. White Chocolate

    White chocolate, believe it or not, isn't chocolate at all. It's just cocoa butter mixed with sugar with a bit of vanilla added.

  19. Avengers: Infinity War

  20. Koala Bears

    The koala is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae, and its closest living relatives are the wombats. Koalas are known for their distinctive appearance and reliance on eucalyptus leaves for food.

    To be honest, I was kind of running out of ideas here but did not want to steal from another list. Admittedly, this is not always what they are called, but still, I have heard some children think they are bears when, in fact, even we are more closely related to bears than they are.

  21. 90 Mile Beach in New Zealand

    I can't believe I forgot it. This beach is only 55 miles long.

  22. The 1975

    The 1975 are an English pop rock band originating from Manchester. The group consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Matthew "Matty" Healy, lead guitarist Adam Hann, bassist Ross MacDonald, and drummer George Daniel. They are known for their eclectic style, which incorporates elements of pop,... read more

  23. Seahorse

    Seahorse is the name given to 54 species of small marine fishes in the genus Hippocampus. "Hippocampus" comes from the Ancient Greek word hippos meaning "horse" and kampos meaning "sea monster." Seahorses are known for their upright swimming posture, prehensile tails, and unique reproductive behavior... read more

  24. Ariana Grande

    Ariana Grande‑Butera (born June 26, 1993) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Her four‑octave vocal range has earned widespread critical praise, and her personal life continues to attract significant media attention. She has received numerous honors, including two Grammy Awards, a Brit Award... read more

    In case anyone doesn't get what Powell means, "grande" is Spanish for big, which is ironic in this case.

    I kind of put her on as a joke, but "Grande" is an ironic name for someone so short.

    Grande means big in Spanish, which is ironic because she is very small.

  25. Maroon 5

    Maroon 5 is an American pop and pop‑rock band formed in Los Angeles, California. The group originally came together in 1994 under the name Kara's Flowers, when Adam Levine, Jesse Carmichael, Mickey Madden, and Ryan Dusick were still in high school. They self‑released a demo and a studio album before... read more

    Ironically, despite that picture, they have seven members. In fact, many say they only have one.

  26. One Tree Hill

    A large hill in Auckland which was named after a solitary tree at the top. The tree has been cut down now so the name no longer fits. However, there were originally other trees on the hill anyway. They just weren't as visible from a distance. Also irrelevant, but the U2 song "One Tree Hill" is about this hill.

  27. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

    So many of the artists included are not rock and roll, be it soul, hip hop, pop, or anything else. It would make more sense if it was called the Music Hall of Fame or maybe the Modern (as opposed to Classical) Music Hall of Fame.

    It should be the Music Hall of Fame since pop singers, rappers, and R&B singers are inducted. Maybe in the future, Justin Bieber will be inducted into the RRHF.

    Most music artists in there have nothing to do with Rock and Roll music.

  28. Eagles of Death Metal

    Eagles of Death Metal is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, formed in 1998. The group was founded by Jesse Hughes and Josh Homme, though Homme rarely tours with the band. The band features a rotating lineup of musicians for both studio recordings and live performances.

    They're an alternative rock band, not a death metal one.

  29. Job for a Cowboy

    Job for a Cowboy is an American death metal band from Glendale, Arizona. Formed in 2003, the band released their debut album Genesis on May 15, 2007. The album peaked at number 54 on the US Billboard 200 and sold around 13,000 copies in its first week.

    You'd think that they are a country band when you first hear the name, but they are actually death metal.

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