There are three types in terms of the purposes for using old provincial names for names of cities, towns, and villages apart from avoidance of duplication; the first type is to use old provincial names to show direction; (examples: Higashiomi City, Nantan City, Sennan City, Minamiawaji City, Unnan City, Anan City, Seiyo City, Nichinan City, Minami-Satsuma City); this type of names is largest in number; the second type is to use old provincial names to indicate that in the city there existed kokufu or the provincial capital once; (examples: Kofu City, Hofu City); third type is to use the old provincial names to show the topography of the city; (examples: Musashino City, Sagamihara City, Kinokawa City); there are also other type which does not fall into the above three types; (examples: Joetsu City, Joyo City, Kyotango City).
その目的は数種に分類され、旧国内における方位を示すもの（例：東近江市、南丹市、泉南市、南あわじ市、雲南市、阿南市、西予市、日南市、南さつま市）が最も多く、国府を表すもの（例：甲府市、防府市）、地形を表すもの（例：武蔵野市、相模原市、紀の川市）、その他（例：上越市、城陽市、京丹後市）などがある。