The full name for Los Angeles is El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciúncula

The name comes from a Spanish expedition in California back in 1769. An expedition led by Gaspar de Portola arrived at what is now the city of Los Angeles, which back then was fertile ground by a river. They decided that this would be a good place for a settlement.

One of the members of the expedition, Father Juan Crespi, named the river El Rio de Nuestra Señora la Reyna de Los Angeles de Porciúncula. (The river of Our Lady, the Queen of the Angels of Porciúncula). The community that was later established on that site was therefore named after the river. El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reyna de Los Angeles de Porciúncula (The town of Our Lady the Queen of the angels of Porciúncula). We now just call it "Los Angeles" for short