The Meanings Behind All 50 State Names

by: Alex
October 10, 2019

Have you ever wondered why your home state is named what it’s named? Curiously enough, there’s a pretty interesting reason behind why and how states received their names. Check out the list below to see the literal translation of your own state’s name! Thanks to Expedia for sharing this awesome information.

Alabama: Thicket-Clearers
Alaska: That Which The Sea Breaks Against
Arizona: Place Of The Small Spring
Arkansas: Land Of Downriver People
California: Mythical Island Califia
Colorado: Sandstone Soil
Connecticut: The Long Tidal River
Delaware: Of The War
Florida: Flowery Easter
Georgia: Land Of King George II
Hawaii: Place Of The Gods
Idaho: Gem Of The Mountains
Illinois: Speaks Normally
Indiana: Land Of The Indians
Iowa: This Is The Place
Kansas: People Of The South Wind
Kentucky: The Meadow
Louisiana: Land Of King Louis XIV
Maine: Mainland
Maryland: Land Of Queen Henrietta Maria
Massachusetts: Near The Great-Little-Mountain
Michigan: Great Lake
Minnesota: Milky Water
Mississippi: Great River
Missouri: Dugout Canoe
Montana: Mountainous
Nebraska: Flattened Water
Nevada: Snow-Covered
New Hampshire: The New Hants
New Jersey: Channel Island Of Jersey
New Mexico: New Place Of Mexitli (Aztec God)
New York: New Home Of The Duke Of York
North Carolina: In Honor Of King Charles I
North Dakota: North Ally
Ohio: Good River
Oklahoma: Red People
Oregon: Indian River Ouragon
Pennsylvania: Penns Woods
Rhode Island: Red Island
South Carolina: In Honor Of King Charles I
South Dakota: South Ally
Tennessee: The Bends Of A River
Texas: Friend
Utah: People Of The Mountains
Vermont: Green Mountain
Virginia: Country Of The Virgin
Washington: Home Of The First President
West Virginia: West Of The Country Of The Virgin
Wisconsin: River Running Through A Red Place
Wyoming: At The Big River Flat

#OMG