Gotham
/ˈɡɒθəm/noun
A nickname for New York City, especially in literary and popular culture, and the fictional city associated with Batman.
Did you know?Washington Irving popularized Gotham for New York in 1807 by borrowing an old English folktale about the village of Gotham, whose people were said to act foolishly to avoid royal taxation.
Etymological Timeline
Old English / Medieval folklore
English
Gōtham
“A place-name later attached to a village in Nottinghamshire, England, wrapped in tales of clever or foolish villagers.”
16th Century
English
Gotham (village lore)
“A legendary English village whose inhabitants were portrayed as fools in humorous tales.”
1807
English
Gotham
“Washington Irving applied the name to New York City in Salmagundi as a satirical nickname.”
19th Century
English
Gotham
“The nickname spread in American journalism and literature as a literary stand-in for New York City.”
20th Century
English
Gotham
“Batman’s fictional city adopted the name, giving it a darker modern mythic aura.”