The Medieval Mindset Behind Naming Cities After Birds, Trees, and Bells

To modern eyes, the idea of naming a city—or at least defining its identity—using birds, trees, fish, and bells may seem whimsical, if not strange. Yet, in the medieval world, such symbols were profoundly meaningful. They weren’t decorative; they were moral compasses, memory devices, and civic manifestos.

The city of Glasgow offers perhaps the best-known example. Its iconic rhyme:

"The tree that never grew
The bird that never flew
The fish that never swam
And the bell that never rang"

may sound like a children's riddle, but it encapsulates a rich spiritual and symbolic tradition. These four emblems—each linked to the life and miracles of St. Kentigern (St. Mungo)—act as an allegorical anchor for the city. But Glasgow wasn’t unique. Across medieval Europe, natural and sacred symbols were commonly used to name places, mark their identity, and transmit values to the people.

Why?