An "Alameda," derived from the Spanish word "álamo" (poplar), fundamentally describes a street or path lined with trees. This evocative term has been widely adopted globally, particularly in the United States, where it designates a prominent city, island, county, a former naval base, and numerous streets and institutions, especially within California's San Francisco Bay Area. Internationally, "Alameda" marks significant landmarks such as Santiago, Chile's main avenue (officially Avenida Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins), public parks in Mexico City and Gibraltar, and various towns and neighborhoods across Spain and Portugal.

Beyond geographical places, the name also applies to transit hubs like metro stations in Lisbon and Monterrey, ferry services, and even United States Navy ships. Intriguingly, "Alameda" further identifies Alameda Research, a notable quantitative trading firm founded by Sam Bankman-Fried, a community college in California, and even a song by Elliott Smith.