Local politicians are fighting to save the name of Erewash as an MP's seat - although outsiders often call it "Earwash."
It should be pronounced "Errywash" and comes from a river which takes the Anglo-Saxon word for "meandering stream."
The Boundary Commission suggests it should be renamed Ilkeston and Long Eaton, after the two largest towns in the area.
But councillors fear that would revive old battles about which community gets the most from public finances.
Former Erewash Conservative mayor Chris Corbett urged residents to oppose the change, saying that the area gets a boost every time Erewash is mentioned in the House of Commons.
He said: "I am proud to live in the only constituency named after a river and a canal.
"Sometimes strangers call it Earwash but I Iike its uniqueness. People probably want to change it because they don't know where it is but then they don't know where Ilkeston or Long Eaton are.
"If they don't know where Erewash is, they should look it up on Google. That would be cheaper," added Long Eaton Cllr Corbett.
And Cllr Corbett feared a new name would revive local squabbles about preferences given to either of the biggest towns.
He was backed by James Dawson, deputy Labour leader on Erewash Borough Council, which would not have its name changed.
When Cllr Dawson attends meetings of the Local Government Association, people often ask for the location of Erewash but he found it causes no problems.
He said: "I can't see why they are doing this. I am perplexed. We don't get confused with any other area.
"And they are not even changing the Amber Valley name."
Cllr Dawson said more people know the name because there is a sign on the M1 motorway when it crosses the River Erewash.
He added: "There is a case for asking 'what is the identity of Erewash?' The commission review is about place."
One problem arises because some villages are in the Erewash council area but in the mid-Derbyshire parliamentary constituency. That causes confusion when they call the office of Erewash MP Maggie Throup and are directed to MP Pauline Latham.
The commission is seeking public views by August 2. Officials can drop the plan but if they persist, a second round of debate will centre on ideas for a new name. Some favour South-East Derbyshire which was absorbed into Erewash by local government changes in 1974.
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