A navigation device for selectively displaying thoroughfare names utilizes a processor, memory, display, input and antenna/receiver. The navigation device, incorporated within a vehicle receives GPS satellite signals from a plurality of satellites orbiting the earth and calculates its position, velocity and direction. Cartographic data, including data indicative of thoroughfares and their corresponding names is stored in the memory and displayed on the display along with an icon indicative of the location of the vehicle. As the vehicle is navigated along a thoroughfare displayed on the display, the processor causes the display to display the names of thoroughfares which, in one embodiment, intersect with the thoroughfare being navigated; in another embodiment are crosswise with the thoroughfare being navigated. Preferably, only the names of thoroughfares which intersect or are oriented crosswise with the thoroughfare being navigated within a selected angle from perpendicular to the thoroughfare being navigated are displayed. The invention thus displays the thoroughfare names that are most likely of interest without cluttering the display.