伊斯坦堡在其存在的历史之中曾拥有过很多个不同的名字,这些名字都是受该市统治者的文化、语言和宗教所影响。而拜占庭、君士坦丁堡和士坦堡这些旧名现时仍然是某些国家活跃使用的名称。除这些名字之外,伊斯坦堡亦曾被称为「新罗马」或「第二罗马」,因为罗马帝国君主君士坦丁大帝在古代希腊殖民地拜占庭城建立了罗马帝国的纯正基督教首都,以抗衡仍有大量异教徒充斥的罗马城。[1] 伊斯坦堡亦别名「七座山丘的城市」,因为该市的老城是由君士坦丁建於七座山丘上,以与罗马的七座山丘相映衬。这七座山丘在市徽内以七座清真寺代表,每座山上一座。[2]由於伊斯坦堡在整个中世纪有著极高的重要性和丰厚的财富,所以伊斯坦堡的另一个别名是Vasileousa Polis (「众城市的女王」)The modern Turkish name İstanbul (IPA: [istambul] or colloquial [ɨstanbul]) is attested (in a range of different variants) since the 10th century, at first in Armenian and Arabic and then in Turkish sources; it has been the common name for the city in normal speech in Turkish even since before the conquest of 1453. It derives from the Greek phrase "εις την ∏όλιν" or "στην ∏όλη" [(i)stimboli(n)], both meaning "in the city" or "to the city".[2]Byzantium is the first known name of the city. When Roman emperor Constantine I (Constantine the Great) made the city the new eastern capital of the Roman Empire on May 11, 330, he conferred on it the name Nova Roma ("New Rome"). Constantinople ("City of Constantine") was the name by which the city became soon more widely known instead of Nova Roma, in honour of Constantine I. It is first attested in official use under emperor Theodosius II (408-450).[3] It remained the principal official name of the city throughout the Byzantine period, and the most common name used for it in the West until the early 20th century.The city has also been nicknamed "The City on Seven Hills" because the historic peninsula, the oldest part of the city, was built on seven hills (just like Rome). The hills are represented in the city's coat of arms with seven mosques, one at the top of each hill.[4] Two of many other old nicknames of Istanbul are Vasilevousa Polis ("Queen of Cities"), which rose from its importance and wealth throughout the Middle Ages and "Dersaadet," originally Der-i Saadet (The door to happiness) which was first used twoards the end of 19th century and still remembered.With the Turkish Postal Service Law of March 28, 1930, the Turkish authorities officially requested foreigners to adopt Istanbul as the sole name also in their own languages