The Name of Navarino
In the Middle Ages, Pylos was named Avarino (Αβαρίνος), probably after a body of Avars who settled there. "Of the Avars" (Greek: των Αβαρίνων) could later have become the place-name Navarino (Greek: Το Ναυαρίνον) by epenthesis. Hopf's theory that the name came from the Navarrese Company is chronologically unsustainable. Another theory suggests it is a Slavic name meaning "place of maples".
The Venetian name was "Zonklon" (from Greek Ionchion), the Turkish name (1498-1821) "Anavarin" (with another round of epenthesis), and the local Greek name "Neokastron" 'new castle'.
Other names recorded for the town and the castles are Avarmus, Abarinus, Albarinos, Albaxinus, Avarinos, Coryphasium, Iverin, Nelea, Port de Jonc, Porto Giunco, and Zunchio.
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