There are various theories about the formation of the name of Alaçatı. Some sources claim that the name of the city formulated in the plural number and is considered to have its origin from the ancient Greek word ἅλς ("als") - ἅλας ("alas"), "salt", plural ἅλατα ("alata"), "salts", in the Demotic Greek αλάτι ("alati"), "salt", plural αλάτια (), "salts", which enunciate as Alatzata and Alatsata either due to Turkish alteration of the language (e.g. in Turkish, the word “kalderim” (meaning cobbled road - originated from the Greek kallidromon) or according to a local Greek dialect.