Naming a lake, river, stream or other natural geographic feature in Minnesota is guided by Minnesota Statues 83A.02 - 83A.07.
Naming process
County
The process begins at the county where the natural feature is located. Fifteen or more voters registered in that county must petition the county board of commissioners for a public hearing. If the county board agrees on the proposed name, the board adopts a resolution in support of the name.
State
The county resolution is sent to the Department of Natural Resources for approval from the Commissioner. In considering county requests to name a geographic feature or change a feature's name, the DNR considers whether the county followed a proper public process and whether the county-approved name complies with naming conventions. Names must avoid confusion with similarly named features and may not commemorate a living person.
If approved by the DNR Commissioner, the name is recorded by the county and is official in Minnesota.
Federal
As a final step, information is sent to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names, who will approve or deny the name change for federal use.
Resources
Public hearing documents
If you're interested in naming or changing the name of a geographic feature, the following samples may be used as you work with your county.
Minnesota Statute Chapter 83A
- 83A.02 - Powers and duties
- 83A.03 - Names given to be official
- 83A.04 - County boards naming geographic features must have approval of commissioner of natural resources
- 83A.05 - Changing and giving names to water bodies
- 83A.06 - Hearing on petition
- 83A.07 - Names not to be duplicated
Related resources and links
- Tribal Nations in Minnesota
- Tribal Historic Preservation Officers
- DNR Order - Lake Calhoun / Bde Maka Ska Name Change
- U.S. Board on Geographic Names
- U.S. Board on Geographic Names: Principles, Policies and Procedures
- U.S. Board on Geographic Names: Geographic Names Information System
- Minnesota Place Names
- Public Waters Inventory Maps
- Public Waters Inventory Lists
- Minnesota Public Waters Name Changes
- Gazetteer of Meandered Lakes
- Bulletin No. 25 - An Inventory of Minnesota Lakes
Questions
Pete Boulay, 651-296-4214
