App to Document Female Representation in Catalan Toponyms

The Institut de les Dones (Institute of Women) has launched a new application to create a comprehensive registry of streets in Catalonia named after women. The tool aims to map, document and promote the visibility of women honoured in public spaces across the region. This initiative responds to ongoing efforts by municipalities to rebalance street naming practices, which have historically favoured male figures. Recent examples include Manresa, where the city council approved naming four public spaces after women in 2025, and Barcelona’s Eixample district, which renamed three passages to restore the original names of women they were dedicated to.

Tracking Progress in Gender Parity

In Manresa, spaces have been named after figures such as Anna Solà Sardans, a PSUC activist; Assumpció Balaguer Golobart, a local actress; Francesca Espinel Mengual, the first female dentist in the city; and La Fadulla, a revolutionary woman executed in 1688 after leading the local 'Avalot de les Faves' uprising.

  • The renaming process in Manresa followed a participatory initiative called 'Plaça és nom de dona' led by the local residents’ association.
  • Barcelona’s city council has also undertaken similar revisions, restoring women’s names in the Gràcia and Sagrada Família districts.
  • The new app will compile such cases across Catalonia, offering a centralised, accessible record.
We can say that one-third of the women’s street names in Manresa have been introduced since the middle of the last term. Our goal is to significantly increase the presence of women’s names in the nomenclature.

This statement was made by Tània Infante, councillor for Culture in Manresa, during a full council meeting in April 2025, highlighting the political commitment to gender visibility in public space.

Encouraging Municipal Participation

The application invites local administrations to contribute data on streets, squares and passages named after women. The goal is to foster transparency and encourage more towns and cities to address historical gender imbalances in their toponymy. The project aligns with broader municipal strategies across Catalonia, including in Altafulla and Torredembarra, where local governance continues to prioritise social and cultural initiatives that reflect community values.

Residents and local officials can access the platform to view existing entries and submit new ones, supporting a more inclusive representation of historical and contemporary women across Catalonia’s urban landscape.

Primary sources: ajuntament.barcelona.cat, Ajuntament de Barcelona. Reported by naciodigital.cat, regio7.cat, altafullaradio.cat, tarragonadigital.com, laciutat.cat, Altafulla Ràdio.