Changes in urban place names: The Sivas example

Humans have always sought to name all entities in the universe, including themselves, as well as places, spaces, emotions, values, and ideas. Place names, whether assigned by individuals or agreed upon collectively by communities, eventually become a key part of a place's identity. In this respect, toponyms act both as symbols of belonging and as transmitters of culture. However, just as the world changes over time, place names are also affected by social, political, and cultural transformations. In some countries and periods, these changes can happen more rapidly. Türkiye's recent history offers clear examples of this, and the ancient city of Sivas is one of the places where such transformations are evident. This study investigates the toponymy of Sivas, focusing on recent changes in the names of urban places and spaces. The main aim is to identify the structure and extent of these changes and to reveal the factors behind new naming practices, contributing to the literature on Turkish cultural geography and urban toponymy. Designed as a case study with a cultural geography perspective, the research examines all public place names in the city, such as neighborhoods, streets, squares, schools, and parks. These names whether old, new, or changed-were identified, classified, and analysed. The study was designed within the framework of a qualitative dominant mixed methods approach. The findings show that traditional place names in Sivas have largely been preserved due to the city's deep history and strong Turkish-Islamic culture. On the other hand, names given to newly developed areas generally align with the national and moral values of the public. Name changes appear to be shaped by the cultural policies of the administration and significant current events. Notably, many newly named or renamed places are dedicated to security personnel martyred in recent anti-terror operations. Keywords: City, Toponymy, Changed Place Names, Sivas.