U.S. State Name Origins
Which state was named after Queen Elizabeth I?
- Virginia was named in honor of Queen Elizabeth I, who was also known as the Virgin Queen.
Which state was named after an Italian explorer?
- California was named after the fictional island of California described in a popular Spanish novel. The island was ruled by Queen Calafia, who was believed to have been inspired by a real-life Italian explorer named Amerigo Vespucci.
Which state was named after an Indian tribe?
- Mississippi is derived from the Ojibwe word "misi-ziibi", which means "Great River."
Which state was named after a French king?
- Louisiana was named in honor of King Louis XIV of France.
Which state was named after a British monarch?
- Georgia was named after King George II of England.
Which state was named after an American president?
- Washington was named in honor of George Washington, the first president of the United States.
Which state was named after a Spanish queen?
- Colorado is named after the Colorado River, which was named by Spanish explorers. The river was originally called Rio Colorado, which means "colored river" in Spanish. It was named after Queen Isabel of Spain, who was also known as La Católica.
Which state was named after a Native American tribe?
- Idaho is derived from the Shoshone word "ee-da-how", which means "gem of the mountains."
Which state was named after an English county?
- Hampshire is a county in southern England. New Hampshire was named after Hampshire by Captain John Mason, who was one of the first English settlers in the area.
Which state was named after a river?
- Missouri is named after the Missouri River, which was named after the Missouri Indian tribe.
