The origin of the name "La Jolla" is obscure. It is pronounced like "Lah Hoy-ya", not "Lah Ho-ya" as it should be in Spanish. Some say it is a corruption of "ahoy", called-out by sailors seeking the attention of people on the shore. More likely, though, it is a misspelling of "La Joya", meaning "The Jewel" in Spanish.

The people of La Jolla, wanting a separate identity from San Diego, often refer to their community as if it were a separate city. This is especially true of the world-famous institutions that make their homes there. Even the U.S. Post Office will happily deliver mail addressed to "La Jolla, CA". However, La Jolla is a part of the city of San Diego and not separately incorporated.

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