Neman River
The lower reaches of the Neman River were named either *"Mēmele" or *"Mēmela" by Scalovians and local Curonian inhabitants. In the Latvian Curonian language it means "mute, silent" ("memelis, mimelis, mēms"), as a reference to peaceful flow of the Neman River. This name was adopted by speakers of German and also chosen for the new city founded further away at the lagoon.