Location name references in Breath of the Wild
A year or so ago, I went through the location names in Breath of the Wild and tried to find out which names reference previous things from the series. The following is an overview of everything I was able to find back then. Will be taking this region by region and adding some observations where relevant. I also think most of these names are the same in Tears of the Kingdom but I know at least a few changed, so all of this may not apply to that game. Of note is also that I am leaving out the more obvious ones like Gerudo Desert, Lake Hylia, Death Mountain and the Lost Woods as these tend to be well-known. This focuses on the slightly more obscure ones.
I do want to point out one major one though: the Hebra Region (ヘブラ地方). This is actually a reference to A Link to the Past, A Link Between Worlds and Four Swords Adventures. In the former two, the main name of Death Mountain in the Japanese version is ヘブラ山 or Hebra Mountain. In Four Swords Adventures meanwhile, there is a minor region on Death Mountain called Hebra's Hill (ヘブラの丘). But let's get into the more minor references.
Gerudo Region
Arbiter's Grounds = Arbiter's Grounds from Twilight Princess
Spectacle Rock = Spectacle Rock from The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II and A Link to the Past. Many similar locations, sometimes with similar names, have also appeared throughout the series.
Koukot Plateau = the names of Koume and Kotake, who together make up Twinrova, smashed together. They appear in Ocarina of Time, the Oracle games and the memories in Tears of the Kingdom.
Mount Nabooru = Nabooru from Ocarina of Time and Nabooru Town from Zelda II.
Yarna Valley = Yarna Desert from Link's Awakening.
East Gerudo Mesa = Gerudo Mesa from Twilight Princess.
Overall, this region has few references, mostly centered around deserts and the Gerudo people. The only odd one out is Spectacle Rock, which is usually located in the north of Hyrule on Death Mountain.
South of Lake Hylia
Parache Plains (テトラ平原/Tetra Plains) = Tetra (テトラ/Tetra)
Faron region
Lake Floria/Floria River/Floria Bridge/Floria Falls = Lake Floria from Skyward Sword.
Martha's Landing = Martha's Bay from Link's Awakening.
Tuft Mountain = King Tuft from Tri Force Heroes.
Toronbo Beach = Toronbo Shores from Link's Awakening.
Koholit Rock = Koholint Island from Link's Awakening.
There is no real theme here, aside from the locations on Eventide Island referencing Link's Awakening, as the whole island is a reference to that game. This region also contains the only reference in Breath of the Wild to Tri Force Heroes.
Great Plateau and southwestern Hyrule Field
Digdogg Suspension Bridge = Digdogger from The Legend of Zelda and Oracle of Seasons.
Manhalna Bridge = Manhandla from The Legend of Zelda, Oracle of Seasons and Four Swords Adventures.
Gleeok Bridge = Gleeok from The Legend of Zelda, Oracle of Seasons, Phantom Hourglass and Tears of the Kingdom.
Aquame Bridge = Aquamentus from The Legend of Zelda and Oracle of Seasons.
Mount Daphnes = King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule from The Wind Waker.
Lake Kolomo/Kolomo Garrison Ruins = the Lokomo from Spirit Tracks.
Forest of Time = Forest of Time from Oracle of Ages.
Temple of Time = Temple of Time from Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword. The appearance of the structure most closely resembles the Ocarina of Time incarnation.
The bridges here are named after bosses from the first Zelda games, which is a running theme with the bridges around Hyrule Field. The other bridges are named after bosses from the other NES Zelda game, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, however.
Kakariko Village and Southeastern Hyrule Field
Proxim Bridge (モヨリ橋/Moyori Bridge) = Aboda Village (モヨリ村/Moyori Village) from Spirit Tracks.
Owlan Bridge = Owlan from Skyward Sword.
Horwell Bridge = Horwell from Skyward Sword.
Eagus Bridge = Eagus from Skyward Sword.
Batrea Lake = Batreaux from Skyward Sword.
Nabi Lake = Navi from Ocarina of Time.
Mable Ridge = Maple from the Oracle games and A Link to the Past (GBA).
Sahasra Slope = Sahasrahla from A Link to the Past and A Link Between Worlds.
Telta Lake = Tatl from Majora's Mask.
Lake Siela = Ciela from Phantom Hourglass.
Pillars of Levia = Levias from Skyward Sword.
Bonooru's Stand = Bonooru from Ocarina of Time.
Pierre Plateau = Pierre from Ocarina of Time and (maybe) Majora's Mask.
The island in the southeast of Hyrule Field is centered around Skyward Sword references, while the area around Kakariko Village contains references to helpful characters from throughout the series: companions and friendly NPCs. If I had to hazard a guess, this is a general reference to the Sheikah's and Impa's supporting roles throughout the series, as Kakariko Village is their home in Breath of the Wild.
Tabantha and Hyrule Ridge
Kolami Bridge = Komali from The Wind Waker.
Seres Scablands = Seres from A Link Between Worlds.
Breach of Demise = Demise from Skyward Sword.
This region contains relatively few references. This is of note because there is only one reference made to the Rito from The Wind Waker, which makes sense considering the Rito live in Tabantha in Breath of the Wild. However, there were a lot of named Rito that appeared in The Wind Waker and only one is referenced in Breath of the Wild. This is especially notable as there are a lot of references to individual Zoras, Koroks/Kokiri and Gorons in other regions of the map.
Northern Hyrule Field
Carok Bridge = Carock from Zelda II.
Helmhead Bridge = Helmethead from Zelda II.
Rebonae Bridge = Rebonack from Zelda II.
Orsedd Bridge = Horsehead from Zelda II.
Mount Gustaf = King Gustaf from The Minish Cap.
Mabe Village Ruins/Mabe Prairie = Mabe Village from Link's Awakening.
Romani Plains = Romani and Romani Ranch from Majora's Mask.
Rauru Settlement Ruins/Rauru Hillside = Rauru from Ocarina of Time and Tears of the Kingdom and Rauru Town from Zelda II.
Crenell Hills/Crenel Peak = Mt. Crenel from The Minish Cap.
Thims Bridge = Smith from The Minish Cap.
Minshi Woods = Minish Woods from The Minish Cap.
Pico Pond = the Picori from The Minish Cap.
Trilby Plain = Trilby Highlands from The Minish Cap.
Here we see the rest of the bridges that reference the NES games. The eastern island and area further to the northeast in general contain many references to The Minish Cap (not pictured here is also the Trilby Valley that also references that game). Mount Gustaf to the west meanwhile is one of three mountains that references a king of Hyrule: we also have Mount Daphnes mentioned earlier and Mount Rhoam in Hyrule Ridge, which of course references king Rhoam from Breath of the Wild itself. Finally, the places named after Rauru could be named after the sage from Ocarina of Time, but it is also possible they reference the first king of Hyrule from Tears of the Kingdom. It depends on how much of Tears of the Kingdom's story was conceptualized when Breath of the Wild first released.
Lanayru Region
Trilby Valley = Trilby Highlands from The Minish Cap.
Zauz Island = Zauz from Phantom Hourglass.
Linebeck Island = Linebeck from Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks.
Mercay Island = Mercay Island from Phantom Hourglass.
Molida Island = Molida Island from Phantom Hourglass.
Bannan Island = Bannan Island from Phantom Hourglass.
Goponga Island/Goponga Village RUins = Goponga Swamp from Link's Awakening.
Inogo Bridge = The Indigo-Go's from Majora's Mask.
Tabahl Woods = Tabahl Wasteland from Link's Awakening.
Zodobon Highlands = King Zora de Bon XIV from Ocarina of Time.
Oren Bridge = Oren from A Link Between Worlds.
Ralis Pond = Prince Ralis from Twilight Princess.
Luto's Crossing = Laruto from The Wind Waker.
Rutala River/Rutala Dam = Queen Rutela from Twilight Princess.
Ruto Mountain/Ruto Lake/Ruto Precipice = Princess Ruto from Ocarina of Time and Ruto Town from Zelda II.
Toto Lake = Toto from Majora's Mask.
Mikau Lake = Mikau from Majora's Mask.
Lulu Lake = Lulu from Majora's Mask.
Ja'Abu Ridge = Lord Jabu-Jabu from Ocarina of Time and Oracle of Ages.
Veiled Falls = Veil Falls from The Minish Cap.
Lanayru has a pretty clear division, with the western Wetlands mostly referencing Phantom Hourglass and the eastern Great Spring containing many references to Zoras and characters relating to the Zoras. We also see a few stray references to Link's Awakening and Veil Falls from The Minish Cap. This is notable because in that game, Veil Falls act as the source of Hyrule's water, which is also often the case for Zora's Domain whenever it appears in the series (and so too in Breath of the Wild).
Lanayru Bay
Samasa Plain = Samasa Desert from Oracle of Seasons.
Brynna Plain = Labrynna from Oracle of Ages.
Horon Lagoon = Horon Village from Oracle of Seasons.
Talus Plateau (トロイワ高原/Toroiwa Plateau) = Talus Peaks (トロイワ山地/Toroiwa Mountains) from Oracle of Ages.
Lodrum Headland = Holodrum form Oracle of Seasons.
Tarm Point = Tarm Ruins from Oracle of Seasons.
Wintre Island = Woods of Winter from Oracle of Seasons.
Spool Bight = Spool Swamp from Oracle of Seasons.
Tal Tal Peak = Tal Tal Peaks from Link's Awakening.
The area around Lanayru Bay is a hotspot for references to the two Oracle games. The stray reference to Link's Awakening (DX) also fits this theme, with it being the other Zelda game for the Game Boy Color, as well as the other Link's Awakening references in Lanayru in general.
Great Hyrule Forest
Upland Lindor/Lindor's Brow = Linder from The Wind Waker.
Irch Plain = Irch from The Wind Waker.
Rowan Plain = Rown from The Wind Waker.
Elma Knolls = Elma from The Wind Waker.
Aldor Foothills = Aldo from The Wind Waker.
Mount Drena/Drenan Highlands = Drona from The Wind Waker.
Lake Mekar/Mekar Island = Makar from The Wind Waker.
Lake Saria = Saria from Ocarina of Time and Saria Town from Zelda II.
Mido Swamp = Mido from Ocarina of Time and Mido Town from Zelda II.
Lots of references to Koroks and Kokiri, which makes sense as the Koroks live in this area in Breath of the Wild.
Eldin Region (a.k.a. Death Mountain)
Lake Darman = Darmani from Majora's Mask.
Darunia Lake = Darunia from Ocarina of Time and Darunia Town from Zelda II.
Gorko Lake/Gorko Tunnel = Gorko from Skyward Sword.
Gortram Cliff = Gortram from Skyward Sword.
Darb Pond = Darbus from Twilight Princess.
Medingo Pool = Medigoron from Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask.
Gero Pond = Don Gero's Mask from Majora's Mask.
Lots of references to Gorons, as the Gorons live here in Breath of the Wild. Don Gero's Mask is probably here because it is initially worn by a Goron in Majora's Mask.
Akkala Region
Kanalet Ridge = Kanalet Castle from Link's Awakening.
Ulri Mountain/Ulria Grotto = Old Man Ulrira from Link's Awakening.
Torin Wetland = Tarin from Link's Awakening.
Malin Bay = Marin from Link's Awakening.
Ukuku Plains = Ukuku Prairie from Link's Awakening.
Kaepora Pass = Kaepora Gaebora from Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask and Four Swords Adventures.
Tingel Island = Tingle, who appears in a lot of Zelda games.
Ankel Island = Ankle from The Wind Waker, Four Swords Adventures and The Minish Cap.
Knuckel Island = Knuckle from The Wind Waker, Four Swords Adventures and The Minish Cap.
Davdi Island = David Jr. from The Wind Waker, Four Swords Adventures and The Minish Cap.
Akkala is a cluster for Link's Awakening references, with the reference to Kaepora Gaebora likely also tying into this. That owl's spiritual predecessor, simply called the Owl, namely appeared in Link's Awakening. The islands of off Akkala's coast meanwhile are named after the four Tingle brothers.
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