The meaning of the name Boca Raton has always aroused curiosity. Many people wrongly assume the name is simply Rat's Mouth. Boca (or mouth) often describes an inlet, while raton can mean a “cowardly thief” in old Spanish terms. Thus, a possible translation “thieves' inlet” could be explained by legends that describe Lake Boca Raton as a haven for pirates.
Boca Raton Historical Society—History [1]
My friend Greg and I were trying to find the name of the airport that was later turned into FAU (Florida Atlantic University) [2]. It is well known that the airstrip was an important training ground for airmen during World War II but we couldn't find a name for the airport at all, although I did find out that Lyndon B. Johnson [3] was at the dedication ceremony [4].
[1] http://www.bocahistory.org/history_txt.asp
[3] http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/lj36.html