List of state and territory name etymologies of the United States

==List of state and territory name etymologies of the United States ==

The United States is composed of 50 states and several territories, each with its own unique name. The etymologies of these names often reflect the diverse cultural and historical influences that have shaped the nation. This article provides a detailed list of the origins of the names of the states and territories of the United States.

States

• Alabama: Derived from the Alabama tribe, whose name is believed to come from the Choctaw language, meaning "thicket-clearers" or "vegetation-gatherers."
• Alaska: From the Aleut word "alaxsxaq," meaning "the mainland" or "the object towards which the action of the sea is directed."
• Arizona: Possibly derived from the O'odham word "ali ṣona-g," meaning "small spring."
• Arkansas: Named after the Quapaw people, a Siouan tribe, and the French interpretation of a Algonquian name for the tribe.
• California: Named after a fictional island in the Spanish novel "Las Sergas de Esplandián" by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo.
• Colorado: From the Spanish word "colorado," meaning "colored red," referring to the Colorado River.
• Connecticut: From the Algonquian word "quinetucket," meaning "long tidal river."
• Delaware: Named after Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, an early English governor of the Virginia Colony.
• Florida: From the Spanish "Pascua Florida," meaning "flowery Easter," named by Juan Ponce de León.
• Georgia: Named in honor of George II of Great Britain.
• Hawaii: Named after Hawaiʻiloa, a legendary figure from Hawaiian mythology.
• Idaho: A coined name, possibly derived from a Shoshone term meaning "the sun comes from the mountains" or "gem of the mountains."
• Illinois: Named after the Illinois Confederation (a group of related Algonquian tribes), with the French suffix "-ois."
• Indiana: Meaning "Land of the Indians."
• Iowa: Named after the Ioway people, a Native American tribe.
• Kansas: Named after the Kansa tribe, whose name means "people of the south wind."
• Kentucky: From the Iroquoian word "ken-tah-ten," meaning "land of tomorrow."
• Louisiana: Named in honor of Louis XIV of France.
• Maine: Possibly named after the French province of Maine or from the nautical term "mainland."
• Maryland: Named in honor of Henrietta Maria of France, queen consort of Charles I of England.
• Massachusetts: Named after the Massachusett tribe, meaning "at the great hill."
• Michigan: From the Ojibwe word "mishigamaa," meaning "large water" or "large lake."
• Minnesota: From the Dakota word "Mnisota," meaning "clear blue water."
• Mississippi: From the Ojibwe word "misi-ziibi," meaning "great river."
• Missouri: Named after the Missouri tribe, meaning "town of the large canoes."
• Montana: From the Spanish word "montaña," meaning "mountain."
• Nebraska: From the Omaha-Ponca word "Ní Btháska," meaning "flat water," referring to the Platte River.
• Nevada: From the Spanish word "nevada," meaning "snow-covered."
• New Hampshire: Named after the English county of Hampshire.
• New Jersey: Named after the Channel Island of Jersey.
• New Mexico: Named after Mexico, which itself derives from the Nahuatl word "Mēxihco."
• New York: Named in honor of the Duke of York.
• North Carolina: Named in honor of Charles I of England, with "Carolina" derived from the Latin "Carolus."
• North Dakota: From the Dakota word "Dakota," meaning "friend" or "ally."
• Ohio: From the Seneca word "ohi:yo'," meaning "great river."
• Oklahoma: From the Choctaw words "okla" and "humma," meaning "red people."
• Oregon: The origin is uncertain, possibly from the French word "ouragan" (hurricane) or a corruption of a Native American word.
• Pennsylvania: Named after William Penn and the Latin word "sylvania," meaning "forest land."
• Rhode Island: Possibly named after the Greek island of Rhodes or from the Dutch "Roodt Eylandt," meaning "red island."
• South Carolina: Named in honor of Charles I of England, with "Carolina" derived from the Latin "Carolus."
• South Dakota: From the Dakota word "Dakota," meaning "friend" or "ally."
• Tennessee: Derived from the Cherokee town name "Tanasi."
• Texas: From the Caddo word "taysha," meaning "friends" or "allies."
• Utah: Named after the Ute tribe, meaning "people of the mountains."
• Vermont: From the French words "vert" (green) and "mont" (mountain).
• Virginia: Named in honor of Elizabeth I of England, the "Virgin Queen."
• Washington: Named in honor of George Washington.
• West Virginia: Named in honor of Elizabeth I of England, the "Virgin Queen," with "West" distinguishing it from Virginia.
• Wisconsin: From the Miami word "Meskonsing," meaning "it lies red," referring to the Wisconsin River.
• Wyoming: From the Munsee word "xwé:wamənk," meaning "at the big river flat."

Territories

• American Samoa: "Samoa" means "sacred earth" in the Samoan language.
• Guam: From the Chamorro word "Guåhan," meaning "we have."
• Northern Mariana Islands: Named after Mariana of Austria, queen regent of Spain.
• Puerto Rico: Spanish for "rich port."
• United States Virgin Islands: Named by Christopher Columbus in honor of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgins.

See also

• List of U.S. state nicknames
• List of U.S. state mottos
• List of U.S. state and territory abbreviations
• List of U.S. state birds
• List of U.S. state flowers
• List of U.S. state trees