Ever wondered where your state’s name really comes from? Some have their roots in Indigenous languages, while others are named for kings, explorers, or even poetic misinterpretations. From names that honor rivers and mountains, to those wrapped in myth or mistranslation, here’s a look at the unexpected stories behind the names of all 50 states.
Click through this gallery to discover how your state got its name...
Alabama is a name rooted in the landscape, and the people who first shaped it – an Indigenous tribe known as the Alabamas or Alibamons. The name may be derived from a Choctaw phrase meaning 'vegetation gatherers' or 'thicket clearers’ – a nod to their practice of clearing land to grow crops.
Early European settlers named the Alabama River after the tribe, and it was later adopted for the entire state. Pictured here is Birmingham, Alabama, in 1855.
Alaska’s name reflects the state’s immense geography and deep Indigenous heritage. It comes from the Aleut word 'alaxsxaq,' meaning ‘the mainland' or, more literally, 'the object toward which the action of the sea is directed.'
Russian colonists adapted the word as 'Аляска' (Alyaska) in the 18th century, and it was later officially anglicized to 'Alaska' following the US purchase of the territory from Russia in 1867. This image depicts Sitka in 1869, when it was still the state capital.
There are a few different theories as to the origins of Arizona’s name. One widely-held version links it to a Tohono O’odham (Papago) Indian phrase meaning 'place of the young spring' or 'site of the small springs' (pictured is an 1857 illustration of two Papago individuals). Others believe that it comes from the Aztec word 'arizuma,' meaning 'silver-bearing,' a term perhaps introduced by Spanish colonists familiar with the language during early silver discoveries in the region.
Arkansas carries the legacy of the Quapaw – an Indigenous tribe whose name reached European ears via other Indigenous peoples who called them 'the Arkansas,' meaning 'people of the south wind.'
French explorers on the Jolliet-Marquette expedition (pictured), who charted the Mississippi River in 1673, adopted the name for the area – although the spelling and pronunciation varied widely. The state officially settled the matter in 1881: it would be spelled 'Arkansas' but pronounced 'Arkansaw,' preserving both its French spelling and its Indigenous roots.
It is generally accepted that the name California originates from the 16th-century Spanish romance Las Sergas de Esplandián by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo, which describes a mythical island paradise called California ruled by a warrior queen named Calafia. When the Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés reached the Baja California peninsula, he applied the name to the area, and it stuck. The idea that California was an island also persisted, as seen in this 1650 map.
Colorado takes its name from the Spanish word 'colorado,' meaning 'reddish' or 'ruddy.' Early Spanish explorers called the Colorado River 'Río Colorado' due to the reddish silt it carried, and, like several other states, the name of the river was later applied to the entire territory.
The name Connecticut traces back to the Mohican people, speakers of an Algonquian language, who called the region 'quinnitukq-ut' – meaning something like 'at the long tidal river.' Originally describing the broad waterway we now know as the Connecticut River, the name eventually extended to the colony and the state itself. Pictured is a 17th-century scene of a Dutch ship gliding past Fort Good Hope – now Hartford – capturing a moment in the region’s early colonial era.
Delaware takes its name from the Delaware River and Bay, but the story stretches across the Atlantic. The river was named in honor of Sir Thomas West, 12th Baron De La Warr (pictured), an English nobleman and early governor of Virginia. Though he never set foot in what’s now Delaware, his title became attached to the region through early exploration and stuck.
When Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León landed on the Atlantic coast in 1513 – at a spot now marked by a statue in Ponte Vedra Beach (pictured) – he arrived on Easter Sunday, known in Spain as 'La Pascua de las Flores' ('Feast of Flowers').
Some believe he named the land 'La Pascua Florida' in honor of the holy day, while others argue it was simply 'La Florida' ('the place of flowers'), inspired by the region’s lush springtime blooms.
Founded in 1732 as the last of the original 13 colonies, Georgia was named with purpose – and politics – in mind. Its founders honored King George II of England (pictured), whose royal approval helped bring their vision to life: a colony that would offer refuge to the debtors who crowded London prisons, while also serving as a buffer against Spanish Florida.
Hawaii's name has several origin stories, although the most common is that 'Hawai'i' is an English spelling of the native word for homeland: 'owhyhee.' Captain James Cook, the first European to make contact with Hawaii in 1778, originally named the group 'the Sandwich Islands’ (in honor of the Earl of Sandwich, not the food item) which lasted until the 1810s when King Kamehameha I united all the islands as the Kingdom of Hawai’i.
Idaho’s name is often said to mean 'gem of the mountains,' though its origins are murky. One theory links it to the Shoshone phrase 'Edah hoe,' or 'light of the mountains,' while others suggest it was simply made up by a lobbyist with a flair for the poetic. Pictured here is an 1874 image of Snake River Canyon, captured by Timothy H O'Sullivan during the Wheeler Survey – an ambitious effort to chart the untamed landscapes of the American West.
Illinois takes its name from the Illinois Confederation, a group of Algonquian-speaking Indigenous tribes who inhabited the region. Seventeenth-century French explorers adopted the name for the area, drawing from the Algonquian word 'illiniwek,' roughly meaning 'ordinary speaker' – a reference to the tribes' shared language. Pictured is a lithograph showing Native Americans approaching early Chicago in 1820 by canoe.
Derived from its status as former Indian land, Indiana's name traces back to 1768, when the Iroquois Confederacy granted a 5,000-square-mile tract of land to a group of Philadelphia-based traders as compensation for losses during frontier raids.
The traders referred to the area as 'Indiana' – a nod to its recent proprietors. The name persisted and was later adopted when the Indiana Territory was established in 1800.
If you're from Iowa and you like a nap, well, you're in the right place. The name stems from a term used by neighboring tribes to refer to the Indigenous Báxoje people: 'ayuway,' meaning 'sleepy ones.' French explorers later wrote it down as 'Ioway,' before it was anglicized to Iowa.
Kansas gets its name from the Kanza (or Kaw) tribe, part of the Sioux family, who lived along the river that now shares their name. The word 'Kansas' comes from their tribal name, which means 'south wind people' or simply 'wind people' – a fitting name for a state known for wide skies and sweeping plains. Pictured is an illustration of Kanza Indians dancing inside a lodge in the early 19th century.
First used by settlers in the 1700s, there are several possible Indigenous roots for the name Kentucky. It might come from the Iroquois word 'kentake,' meaning 'meadow land,' the Shawnee term for 'at the head of a river,' or the Wyandot word 'ken-tah-ten,' meaning 'land of tomorrow.'
Long before Daniel Boone’s famous 1769 expedition, Kentucky was home to a range of Indigenous peoples. Boone’s arrival marked a turning point – he carved out the Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap, helping turn this once-remote land into a key frontier for early America.
Named in honor of King Louis XIV of France, the name Louisiana was first used in 1683 by French explorer René-Robert Cavelier de La Salle. He originally applied it to a vast territory that included the entire Mississippi River drainage basin and its many tributaries. This image captures a romanticized version of this historic moment, with La Salle and his men planting a cross and French flag to claim the land for France, as Native Americans look on.
The origin of Maine’s name has long been debated, with two leading theories. One suggests it was a tribute to Queen Henrietta Maria (pictured), wife of England’s Charles I, who is believed to have had holdings in the French province of Maine. The other suggests that early English seafarers and fishermen used the term 'the main' or 'mainland' to distinguish the coast from nearby islands.
It turns out Queen Henrietta Maria was quite the muse – she’s also the namesake of Maryland. In 1632, King Charles I established the colony via a royal charter, and the new territory was named 'Terra Mariae,' or 'Mary’s Land,' in honor of the queen. Pictured here is a 1676 colonial map of the state, along with Virginia.
Massachusetts was the first US state to take its name from a Native American language. While the Mayflower Pilgrims famously landed at Plymouth in 1620 – depicted here in an 1876 illustration – it wasn't they who named the region.
Later English settlers including John Smith (yes, the John Smith that inspired Disney's Pocahontas), named the state for the local Massachuset tribe, whose name is often translated as 'near the great hill,' likely referring to the Blue Hills south of Boston.
Michigan gets its name from the Algonquian word 'mishigamaw,' meaning 'big lake' or 'great water' – a fitting title for a state defined by its position in the Great Lakes region. However, did you know that Lake Michigan could have been called Lake Illinois?
On this 17th-century map by French explorers Jolliet and Marquette, the lake appears as 'Lake Michigan or Lake Illinois,' a reflection of its geographic connection to the Illinois River and the nearby Illinois tribe. Over time, Michigan became the official name of both lake and state.
Minnesota takes its name from the Minnesota River, which in turn comes from the Dakota Sioux word 'Mnisota' – often translated as 'cloudy water' or 'sky-tinted water.' Pictured here is an 1843 stereograph showing Sioux tipis in what would become the state of Minnesota, offering a glimpse into the lives of the Indigenous communities that shaped its identity.
The state gets its name from the river, and the river’s name likely comes from the Ojibwe word 'misiziibi,' meaning 'great river.' In 1673, French explorers Marquette (depicted in this 1754 illustration) and Jolliet became the first Europeans to map the river. The name was in use by Indigenous peoples they encountered, and appears in their journals.
There’s more than one origin story for the name Missouri. Most trace it to the Missouria tribe, whose name likely comes from an Algonquian term meaning 'those with dugout canoes.' Others link it to a tribal word meaning 'muddy water,' in reference to the state's large river.
Here, a 19th-century tobacco card depicts Big Bear, a Missouria leader, in traditional dress. Such images are among the few surviving visual records of tribal figures, but they're considered controversial due to their commercial use and outsider interpretation.
Montana’s name, which means 'mountainous,' is fitting for a state defined by its rugged peaks and sweeping vistas. There’s some debate over whether the word comes from Spanish or Latin, but its meaning is clear.
The name was chosen in 1864 by Congressman James M Ashley when the area was officially designated the Montana Territory. It held that title until 1889, when it became the 41st US state and dropped the word 'territory.' Pictured here is an 1856 illustration by artist John Mix Stanley, known for documenting the American West.
Nebraska gets its name from an Indigenous word that describes its landscape. The name likely comes from the Sioux term 'nibraska,' used to describe the river that runs through the state and thought to mean either 'shallow water' or 'broad water.'
It may also come from the Oto word for 'flat river,' which makes sense when you picture the wide, gentle flow of the Platte River winding through the open plains. Pictured is a stereographic card from 1865 showing a group of Sioux people at Spotted Tail Agency, Nebraska.
Nevada might make you think of sun-scorched deserts and dusty roads, but its name actually tells a different story. Taken from the Spanish word 'nevada,' meaning 'snowy' or 'snow-clad,' it’s a nod to the snow-covered mountains that rise above the arid landscape – especially in the north and central parts of the state. Pictured here is Virginia City, Nevada Territory, in 1861.
New Hampshire was named in 1629 by Englishman John Mason, who chose the name to honor the county of Hampshire in southern England. He never set foot in the land he invested in and then named, but the name stuck and carried into statehood. Pictured is an engraving of Meredith, New Hampshire, from a book printed around 1840.
New Jersey was named after the island of Jersey in the English Channel – a little nod to home from Sir George Carteret. He’d once been governor of Jersey, and when he was granted American land by the Duke of York in 1664 he gave it a familiar name as a tribute to his roots. Pictured here is an early 1703 map of New Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania.
New Mexico got its name long before it became part of the United States. Back in the late-1500s, Spanish explorers used the term to describe the land north and west of the Rio Grande.
Despite the name, it wasn’t meant to be a 'new' version of the country of Mexico – which didn’t exist in its current form – but may have come from 'Mexitli,' the name of an Aztec war god. Pictured here is a large adobe building in Taos Pueblo dating back to around 1450 – just one example of the Indigenous settlements Spanish explorers would have encountered when they first arrived in the region.
Originally called New Netherland under Dutch rule, the now-state became New York in 1664 after the English took control. It was renamed in honor of the Duke of York, later to become King James II, who was behind the effort to seize New Netherland from the Dutch. Pictured is an illustration of Dutch settlers meeting Lenape Indians around 1626, near the future site of New York City.
The name Carolina started showing up in English records as early as the 1600s, probably in honor of King Charles I of England (Carolus is Latin for Charles). But it wasn’t until the 1660s that the name really stuck, when King Charles II granted the land to a group of supporters – who returned the favor by naming it after him.
North Dakota gets its name from the word 'dakota,' used by the Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota peoples (branches of the Sioux Nation). It means 'friend,' and was used to signify unity among these Indigenous groups. This 1856 illustration depicts the state's Lake Jessie, as bison graze.
Ohio takes its name from an Iroquois word meaning 'good river,' a nod to the wide, winding Ohio River that cuts through the region. For the Indigenous peoples who lived there long before statehood, the river wasn’t just scenic – it was central to travel, trade, and daily life. Speaking of trade, this early trader's map of the Ohio territory dates back to the 1750s or even before.
The Sooner State gets its name from two Choctaw words: 'okla,' meaning 'people,' and 'humma,' meaning 'red.' Together, they form Oklahoma, or 'red people' – a term that was originally used to describe Native American groups more broadly. Pictured is an 1860 engraving of a Kiowa village in what is now Oklahoma, showing traditional huts and daily life among one of the Great Plains tribes.
No one knows for sure where the name Oregon comes from, but several theories exist. One links it to 'origanum,' a wild sage found along the coast, while another cites the Spanish word 'oregones,' possibly meaning 'big-eared men' and referring to local Indigenous groups.
Whatever the truth, by the time Oregon became the 33rd US state in 1859, the name had already been in use for decades. Pictured here is Portland nearly 40 years later, in 1895.
Pennsylvania is the only state named by and for its founder – William Penn. He wanted to call it 'Sylvania,' Latin for 'woodlands,' to reflect the dense forests covering the area. The addition of 'Penn' made it literally mean 'Penn’s Woods.'
Rhode Island’s name has a couple of competing origin stories, but the most likely one traces back to Dutch explorer Adriaen Block, who called the area Roode Eylandt, or 'Red Island,' presumably referring to the reddish clay along the shoreline. The English later anglicized this name to Rhode Island.
As you might expect, South Carolina has the same origin story as North Carolina, but if you've already forgotten, here's a recap. They were both named for King Charles II of England – 'Carolus' being Latin for Charles. Pictured here is an 1838 painting of Charleston (yes, another English royal homage).
Just like North Dakota, South Dakota takes its name from the Sioux word 'dakota,' meaning 'friend' or 'ally.' Pictured is an engraving of Agnes Park in the state's Black Hills, taken from the 1878 book The Pacific Tourist by Henry T Williams.
Tennessee is named after a Cherokee village called Tanasse (also spelled Tennese), located along what is now the Little Tennessee River (pictured). The name’s exact meaning has been lost to time, though some believe it refers to a bend in the river – apt for a state shaped by winding waterways.
Texas comes from the word 'tejas,' used by the Caddo people and later adopted by Spanish explorers. It means 'friends' or 'allies' – an affable beginning for a state that would go on to be fiercely independent. Pictured here is the state's most iconic building, the Alamo, in 1880.
Utah takes its name from the Ute people, one of the Indigenous tribes that originally inhabited the region. While the exact origin of the word Ute is uncertain, the name has come to symbolize the state’s Indigenous roots and its dramatic, mountainous landscape.
Pictured is an 1862 illustration showing Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon religion, addressing a group of Native Americans. The scene reflects the early and often complex interactions between Mormon settlers and Indigenous communities.
What do Québec City and Vermont have in common? The answer is French explorer Samuel de Champlain (pictured), who founded the Canadian city in 1608. Champlain is also credited with naming the Green Mountains – 'Verd Mont' in French – when he passed through the region in 1609, which would inspire the state’s name.
Virginia was named in honor of Queen Elizabeth I, England's so-called 'Virgin Queen,' by Sir Walter Raleigh during the earliest English efforts to establish a permanent foothold in North America (this illustration depicts his arrival).
The name was first applied in the 1580s, when Raleigh sponsored the colony at Roanoke Island, often considered the first English settlement in the New World. The colony famously disappeared without a trace, but the Virginia name endured.
Washington is the only US state named after a US president – George Washington, of course. Originally, the area was going to be called Columbia, but Congress changed it to avoid confusion with the already existing District of Columbia.
West Virginia split from Virginia during the Civil War, when the western counties opposed secession and remained with the Union. There was talk of naming the new state 'Kanawha,' after a local river named for an Indigenous word, but in the end they kept the Virginian name. This map dates from shortly after the war.
Wisconsin’s name comes from a Native American word that French explorers spelled 'Ouisconsin.' It likely referred to the Wisconsin River, though the exact etymology is unclear. It perhaps meant 'wild rushing water,' or the rather long-winded 'river with holes in the bank where birds nest.'
Wyoming’s name comes from a Native American word that’s been translated a few different ways – some say it means 'broad plains,' others say 'mountains with valleys alternating.' Either way, it captures the dramatic mix of open land and rugged terrain that defines the state.