<![CDATA[Place names represent more than geographical identifiers; they function as cultural symbols that preserve historical memory, religious values, and community identity. The names of Chinese places of worship in Medan reflect complex interactions between language, religion, and cultural adaptation within the Chinese community in Indonesia. However, linguistic studies examining the toponymic forms, lexical meanings, and language patterns of these religious sites remain limited. This study aims to describe the toponymic forms, identify lexical meanings, and analyze the linguistic patterns used in the names of Chinese places of worship in Medan City. This research employed a qualitative descriptive design with an ethnographic approach. Data were collected from Chinese temples (kelenteng) and Buddhist monasteries (vihara) in Medan through observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation. The data were analyzed using the Miles and Huberman interactive model, involving data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The findings show that the names of Chinese places of worship can be categorized into three toponymic aspects: embodiment, society, and culture. The societal category was the most dominant, indicating the strong influence of religious figures, deities, and collective identity. The naming patterns demonstrate multilingual characteristics involving Sanskrit, Hokkien, Mandarin, Indonesian, Pali, and English. The lexical meanings embedded in these names represent religious and philosophical values, including enlightenment, peace, compassion, protection, and prosperity. The names of Chinese places of worship in Medan serve as linguistic representations of cultural heritage, religious beliefs, and collective memory. This study contributes to the understanding of religious toponymy and cultural identity in multicultural societies.]]>
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