Street name sign: what it means
The street name sign shows the name of the street at an intersection. It is usually white letters on green.
What does the street name sign mean?
MUTCD Section 2D.45 says street name signs should be installed in urban areas at all intersections. Names use upper- and lower-case letters. The standard color is white on green; blue, brown, or white with black letters are the only alternatives.
Quick quiz
What does the sign at the top of this page mean?
- Directions to a place.
- No way out at the far end.
- The name of the street at the intersection.
Show answer
C. The name of the street at the intersection. It names the street at the intersection (MUTCD Section 2D.45). Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2D, Guide Signs: Conventional Roads: Section 2D.45, FHWA; MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA
Where will you see it?
At street corners, on posts or above the traffic lights.
What should you do?
Look for it early so you can get into the right lane before you turn.
What do people get wrong?
Waiting until the corner to read the name and then turning suddenly.
Common questions
Why are some street signs blue or brown?
Section 2D.45 lets an agency use blue, brown or white to show who looks after the road.
What is an advance street name sign?
A sign before the intersection naming the next street, so you can plan your turn.
Compare with
Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.
Sources
Checked on 4 November 2026 against the MUTCD 11th Edition (FHWA), Section 2D.45.
- MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2D, Guide Signs: Conventional Roads: Section 2D.45, FHWA
- MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA. FHWA lists the current version as the 11th Edition with Revision 1, dated December 2025
Sign pictures are our own simplified drawings of the MUTCD designs, which are in the public domain (MUTCD Section 1D.06). Sources and image credits.