Before it adopted the name Seattle, the area was known by two preceding names during its early settlement by pioneers.
Initially, when white settlers established a townsite in 1851, they first named it New York. This name likely reflected the ambitions or origins of its founders, envisioning a grand future similar to the prominent East Coast city.
Subsequently, the settlers modified the name to New York-Alki. The addition of "Alki" comes from the Chinook jargon, a trade language used in the Pacific Northwest, and it means "by-and-by." This naming progression illustrates the initial stages of the settlement's development before it was ultimately named after Chief Seattle.
For more historical details, you can refer to the Brief History of Seattle - CityArchives.
