Why Paris is sometimes also called “Paname”

Paname is Léo Férré’s song, and also how lots of parisian “titis” and today’s youngsters call Paris. Why??, although explanations diverge, here are two commonly accepted.

The first one is related to a financial scandal that erupted in 1889 related with the Panama Canal’s construction and that touched some of France’s most influential politicians and entrepreneurs (Gustave Eiffel barely escaped prison) ruining thousands of small investors by wiping their Stock Exchange savings. The word Paname was then used as a punishment form to designate parisians. 

The second one, comes from the fact that parisians had adopted during 20th. Century’s early years the fashion of a hat called “Panama” that Panama Canal’s workers used to wear. Therefore “Paname” could have meant city of elegants and because of the scandal, the city of illusions and delusions. 

Either one of these versions, up to you to decide!!