Does ‘Lake’ Come First Or Second

Former Sandpoint City Clerk Helen Newton offers an interesting question to kick off the week: When I read your line about sunset on CDA Lake, a thought occurred to me. You said Lake Coeur d’Alene.  We say Coeur d’Alene Lake.  Conversely, we say Lake Pend Oreille. I know there is probably no right or wrong but it might be an interesting question to put to your readers some time.  Which comes first:  “Lake” or “the name”?

Lake Mead
Crater Lake
Lake Washington
Lake Michigan
Lake Pend Oreille
Coeur d’Alene Lake

Too much time on my hands, you say?  Ah, contraire.  Too much to do – can’t decide where to start – so am frittering away my time reading your column.

Question: Is it Lake Coeur d’Alene or Coeur d’Alene Lake?