The French word 'Paname' sounds as though it should mean 'Panama', but in fact it is used to refer to the Paris region. It is known that it entered the vernacular sometime around the First World War. The 1920's song 'Tu le r'verras paname', for example, highlights all the wonders of the city that will someday be seen again. Lines such as ''comme c'est loin tout ça, mais tu le r'verras" give the impression that it could have been intended for soldiers fighting abroad. In any case, how the term 'Paname' arose is still uncertain. It could have been linked to the Panama Scandals, in which funds meant for the construction of the Panama Canal were employed as bribes to hide financial difficulties. The scandal came to light in the 1890s, and involved many high profile Parisians, possibly explaining 'Paname'. Around the turn of the century, the French involvement in Panama also popularized the Panama Hat, which become a popular accessory amongst upper class Parisians. The sudden influx of Panama Hats could also be responsible for the term. A third suggestion is that Panama became slang for 'enormous', and was frequently used in reference to the grandeur of Paris.
On a side note the Panama Hat was in fact invented in Ecuador. It was shipped internationally from Panama, hence the name. In Spanish it is still sometimes called 'Paja Toquilla' (straw hat) or 'Jipijapa', which is the name of a region of Ecuador.
-E
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