In Swapping gems for tiles, I had to distinguish between two places named “Georgia”:

There’s a small historical island off the coast of Georgia (the USA one) called Jekyll Island.

Lots of places around the world share a name, and often those names have the same etymology. Either they have a common root, or one was named after the other. (Colonialism has a lot to answer for.) Are there places with the same name but different roots?

A quick search suggests this is a long list; here are just two examples I found.

Georgia, USA and Georgia, Europe

The Wikipedia article says the US state was named after King George II, and points to a chapter from Provincial America. The book doesn’t say so explicitly, but describes a Fort King George established in 1721, eleven years before the royal charter that incorporated the colony.

Meanwhile, the first mention of the European country apparently comes from an Italian map made by Pietro Vesctone dated AD 1320. That predates King George II by about three centuries, so that’s an independent etymology.

Salem, India and Salem, Massachusetts

Helpfully, both places have websites that explain their etymology.

The name of Salem in Tamil Nadu, India comes from a Tamil word: “[the name] appears to have been derived from sela or shalya by which the term refers to the country around the hills”.

The name of Salem in Massachusetts, USA comes from Hebrew instead: “Originally called Naumkeag (Fishing Place) by Native Americans, it was renamed Salem, from the Hebrew word ‘shalom’ (peace), in 1629”. (I visited this Salem two years ago; I recommend the Witch Board Museum.)