A method and apparatus for a navigation system for inputting a street name allows a user to quickly find a desired street name even when the user inputs an incorrect prefix or suffix of the street name. The navigation system accepts a street name based on either a base name input method or a full name input method in the same input field while performing a street name search mostly based on a base name of the street name. The method and apparatus hints an inexperienced user the distinction between the base name and other components of the street name so that the user knows that non-base name element is unnecessary for finding the correct address of the destination.