Alabama:

Derived from the Creek Confederacy's Alabamas or Alibamons, an Indian tribe that named a
river, eventually lending its name to the state.

Alaska:
Originating from the Eskimo word "alakshak," meaning peninsula, or possibly "great lands."

Arizona:
Interpretations include an arid zone or desert meaning, Aztec origin ("arizuma" for
"silver-bearing"), or from the Papagos tribe, referring to the "site of the small springs."

Arkansas:
Uncertain origin; possibly Algonquin, a French version of "Kansas," or from various Indian
spellings like Alkansia.

California:
Named after an imaginary island in a Spanish romance, Cortez applied the name,
envisioning a paradise abundant with gold and gems.

Colorado:
Alternative theories from the river name include the Spanish word for "red," describing the
stream's colour or the red earth found in some areas.

Connecticut:
Derived from the Indian word "Quonoktacut," interpreted as a "river whose water is driven in
waves by tides or winds."

Delaware:
Named after Lord De La Warr, the first governor of Virginia, who explored the bay and river
area.

Florida:
Named for the Spanish "Pascua de Flores" (Feast of Flowers) observed when Ponce de
Leon landed in 1513.

Georgia:
Named after King George II of England, according to a charter granted to General James
Oglethorpe in 1732.

Hawaii:
Derived from the native word, possibly meaning "homeland."
Idaho:
Uncertain origin; suggestions include an Indian word of unknown meaning or "gem of the
mountains."

Illinois:
From the Illini Indian word meaning "men" or "warriors," supplemented by the French ending
"ois."

Indiana:
Possibly named because land along the Ohio River was purchased from Indians or for
Indian tribes settling in western Pennsylvania.

Iowa:
Derived from the Indian tribe, "Ah-hee-oo-ba," meaning "sleepy ones" or "drowsy ones."

Kansas:
Named for the Kansas or Kanza tribe of the Sioux family, translating to "south wind people"
or "wind people."

Kentucky:
Controversial; possible origins include an Indian word meaning "meadow land," "at the head
of a river," or "land of tomorrow."

Louisiana:
Named in honour of Louis XIV of France, it was first used by French explorer Rene Robert
Cavelier de La Salle in 1683.

Maine:
Possibly named after Henrietta Maria's estate in a French province or by fishermen referring
to it as the "main" or mainland.

Maryland:
Named for Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I of England.

Massachusetts:
From the Algonquin word "Massadchu-es-et," meaning "great-hill-small-place."

Michigan:
Derived from the Algonquin word "Mishigamaw," meaning "big lake" or "great water."

Minnesota:
The Sioux word meaning "cloudy water" or "sky-tinted water" is named after the river.
Mississippi:
Meaning "great river" or "gathering-in of all the waters," sometimes referred to as the "father
of waters."

Missouri:
An Indian tribal name denoting "muddy water," named for the large river.

Montana:
Controversial, possibly Spanish or Latin, but generally meaning "mountainous."

Nebraska:
From the Sioux word describing the river, meaning "shallow water" or "broad water."

Nevada:
From the Spanish word meaning "snow-clad" describes the snowy mountains.

New Hampshire:
Named in 1629 by John Mason for the English county of Hampshire.

New Jersey:
Named for the Isle of Jersey off the coast of England by George Carteret.

New Mexico:
It was called "New Mexico" when Mexicans referred to the territory north and west of the Rio
Grande.

New York:
Originally New Netherlands, changed in 1664 when taken over by the English and named in
honour of the Duke of York.

North Carolina:
Originally referred to as Carolina, it was named for Charles I of England and later officially
named North Carolina.

North Dakota:
From the Sioux Indian name meaning "allies," part of the confederated Sioux tribes.

Ohio:
Iroquois Indian word meaning "beautiful river," named after the river.

Oklahoma:
Choctaw is an Indian word meaning "red people."
Oregon:
It is possibly derived from "origanum," a wild sage species, or from the Spanish "Oregones,"
referring to the Indian tribes as "big-eared men."

Pennsylvania:
Named for its founder, William Penn, who initially wanted to call it "Sylvania."

Rhode Island:
Originally called "Roode Eylandt" by Dutch Navigator Adrian Block, it was later anglicised to
Rhode Island.

South Carolina:
Named for Charles II of England, similar to its sister state, North Carolina.

South Dakota:
From Sioux Indian name meaning "allies."

Tennessee:
Of Cherokee origin from a village site called Tanasse, meaning "bend in the river."

Texas:
Derived from the Indian word "tejas," meaning "friends" or "allies."

Utah:
It was taken from the Ute Indians who inhabited the region, but the word's origin is unknown.

Vermont:
Named by Samuel de Champlain for the Green Mountains, a range in the state.

Virginia:
Named by Sir Walter Raleigh for Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen of England.

Washington:
Named after George Washington, "The Father of our Country," replacing the original Territory
of Columbia.

West Virginia:
Initially, part of Virginia retained a portion of the name when the western counties left
Virginia.

Wisconsin:
From an Indian name with uncertain meaning, referring to its principal river or "wild rushing
channel."
Wyoming:
The name has multiple interpretations, including "extensive plains" or "mountains with
valleys alternating."