How Atlanta Got Its Name: A Local’s Guide to the City’s Origins

If you live in Atlanta, visit often, or are just curious about the city you keep hearing called the “ATL” and “Hotlanta,” it’s natural to wonder: Where does the name “Atlanta” actually come from?

The story ties directly into railroads, geography, and a bit of classical-inspired naming—and you can still see traces of that history in and around the city today.

The Short Answer: “Atlanta” Comes from the Western & Atlantic Railroad

The name “Atlanta” is generally understood to be derived from the Western & Atlantic Railroad, a major rail project in the 1800s that helped create the city.

• In the 1830s, Georgia leaders decided to build a state-owned railroad to connect the interior of Georgia to the port of Savannah.
• This line was called the Western & Atlantic Railroad because it stretched westward toward the interior and was intended to link Georgia’s rail network to routes reaching toward the Atlantic Ocean and beyond.
• A terminus point—the end of the rail line—was chosen in North Georgia. That spot became the seed of what is now Atlanta.

Over time, people began using versions of the word “Atlantic” for the settlement near the rail lines. Eventually, the name “Atlanta” stuck and became official.

In simple terms:

Before Atlanta: Terminus and Marthasville

The city we call Atlanta did not start with that name. It went through a few different identities:

“Terminus” – The Railroad End Point

In the early 1840s, the area that became Atlanta was often called “Terminus,” literally meaning “end of the line.”

• This was a practical label: it marked the endpoint of the Western & Atlantic Railroad.
• The “Zero Mile Post,” a marker used to identify the exact endpoint of the railroad, became a physical symbol of this early period.
• Though the original post is no longer in its historic street setting, the idea of a central crossing point of transportation remains central to how Atlanta sees itself today.

If you’re walking around Downtown Atlanta, especially near Five Points, you’re very close to where that early Terminus community developed around rail infrastructure.

“Marthasville” – A Short-Lived Name

The next official name for the town was “Marthasville.”

• The town was reportedly named after Martha Lumpkin, daughter of Governor Wilson Lumpkin, who supported the railroad project.
• “Marthasville” became the name in the early 1840s but did not last long.
• Many residents and planners wanted a name that sounded more modern and connected to broader trade routes and growth.

That desire for a more forward-looking, commercially appealing identity helped pave the way for “Atlanta.”

How “Atlanta” Became the Official Name

By 1845, local leaders chose the name “Atlanta” to replace Marthasville. The exact reasoning was never recorded in a single definitive document, but there is a widely accepted understanding of how it came about.

Connection to the Western & Atlantic Railroad

Most historical explanations agree on this key point:

• “Atlanta” is a shortened, more elegant variation of “Atlantic,” referring to the Western & Atlantic Railroad.
• It helped emphasize Atlanta’s role as a transportation hub linking inland Georgia to larger national and coastal routes.
• The name felt modern, commercially attractive, and appropriate for a city that expected to grow beyond a simple rail stop.

In other words, the railroad named the place as much as the people did.

A “Feminine” Form of “Atlantic”

Some accounts describe “Atlanta” as a feminine version of “Atlantic”:

• This was a common naming style in the 1800s in the United States.
• Just as some cities took on Latin-influenced or classical-sounding names, “Atlanta” felt refined and contemporary for its time.

Whether you think of the name as a tribute to the Atlantic connection or as a stylistic twist on railroad branding, the origin is tightly bound to transportation.

Key Names in Atlanta’s Early History

Here’s a quick overview of the names tied to the city’s origins:

If you’re a local or visitor exploring Downtown Atlanta, it can be interesting to remember that beneath the skyscrapers once stood a rough railroad terminus called Terminus, later Marthasville, before becoming the Atlanta you know today.

What “Atlanta” Means for the City’s Identity Today

Understanding how Atlanta got its name helps explain why the city feels the way it does:

A Transportation and Trade Hub

From its earliest days, the area that became Atlanta was chosen because it was a strategic junction point. That continues today:

• Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the world’s busiest airports.
• Major interstates (I‑20, I‑75, I‑85) intersect in and around the city.
• Freight rail and logistics centers still play a big role in the regional economy.

The name rooted in the Western & Atlantic Railroad reflects a long-standing identity:
Atlanta is a place where routes meet.

A City That Reinvents Itself

Atlanta’s progression from Terminus → Marthasville → Atlanta mirrors its broader story:

• From rail village to Civil War battleground to transportation and business center.
• From a regional trading town to a major metropolitan area with global connections.

For residents, this background helps make sense of Atlanta’s constant growth, redevelopment, and shifting neighborhoods. The city has always seen itself as moving forward, and its final name choice reinforced that idea.

Where You Can See Traces of Atlanta’s Name Origin

If you’re in Atlanta and want to connect the history of the name to real places, there are a few spots and terms you might notice:

Western & Atlantic References

You may encounter references to the Western & Atlantic Railroad in:

• Historic markers around Downtown and along some rail corridors.
• Educational materials at local history museums in the metro area.
• Occasional maps or plaques that discuss Atlanta’s early rail history.

While you may not see the full original railroad infrastructure, the general rail corridors that cut through the city still reflect that early pattern.

Downtown & Five Points Area

The Five Points area, near where several MARTA lines intersect, echoes the spirit of the original Terminus:

• Multiple transit lines cross in a central node.
• Streets radiate outward in a pattern influenced by early rail and street development.

When you stand in the heart of Downtown, you’re essentially on top of the spot chosen in the 1830s–1840s to anchor the Western & Atlantic line—the decision that gave rise to Atlanta’s name.

How Local Nicknames Connect (and Don’t) to the Official Name

If you live in Atlanta or are visiting, you’ll hear a lot of nicknames. These do not come from the same origin as “Atlanta,” but they’re part of the city’s identity today:

• “The ATL” – from the city’s airport code (ATL), widely used by residents, media, and local culture.
• “Hotlanta” – referencing both the weather and the city’s nightlife and energy; popular in tourism and pop culture.
• “A‑Town” – a shorter, casual version of Atlanta used in music and everyday speech.
• “The A” – another local shorthand.

None of these explain where “Atlanta” came from, but they show how the city has built layers of meaning on top of its original, railroad-inspired name.

Why This Origin Story Matters if You Live in or Visit Atlanta

Knowing that Atlanta’s name comes from the Western & Atlantic Railroad can change the way you see the city:

• When you sit in traffic on the Downtown Connector, you’re traveling along corridors that owe their existence to Atlanta’s original role as a transportation terminus.
• When you ride MARTA, you’re using modern infrastructure layered on top of a long history of movement and connection.
• When you fly in or out of ATL, you’re part of a global version of the same idea that named the city: Atlanta as a link between places.

For residents, this backstory can deepen your sense of place. For visitors, it helps explain why Atlanta feels like both a Southern city and a major transportation crossroads with national and international reach.

In summary, the name “Atlanta” traces back to the Western & Atlantic Railroad, with the city evolving from Terminus, to Marthasville, to the more polished and forward-looking Atlanta—a name that still fits a city built on connection, movement, and reinvention.