Country names are a window into history, language and culture. Some are named after ancient peoples, some after geographical features, some after explorers or rulers, and some after indigenous words that Europeans misunderstood or corrupted. Here are the fascinating origins of some of the world's most well-known country names.

Countries Named After People

Many countries are named after real or legendary people. The Americas are named after Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian explorer who first recognised that the lands discovered by Columbus were a separate continent from Asia. Bolivia is named after Simón Bolívar, the liberator of much of South America. Colombia is named after Christopher Columbus — though Columbus never actually set foot in the territory that became modern Colombia.

• •America — Named after Amerigo Vespucci, Italian explorer (1454-1512)
• •Bolivia — Named after Simón Bolívar, liberator of South America (1783-1830)
• •Colombia — Named after Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón)
• •Philippines — Named after King Philip II of Spain (Felipe II)
• •Saudi Arabia — Named after the Saudi dynasty (Al Saud family)
• •Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) — Named after Cecil Rhodes, British colonialist
• •Marshall Islands — Named after British Captain John Marshall who explored the area

European explorers gave many countries names that stuck for centuries

Countries Named After Geographical Features

Many country names describe the landscape that early explorers or settlers encountered. Sierra Leone means Lion Mountains in Portuguese, describing the roaring thunder that sounded like lions from the mountains. Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) was named by Portuguese traders for the large amounts of ivory traded there. Montenegro means Black Mountain in Venetian Italian, referring to the dark appearance of Mount Lovćen.

• •Iceland — From Old Norse Ísland meaning Ice Land
• •Greenland — Misleadingly named by Erik the Red to attract settlers (it is mostly ice)
• •Montenegro — Venetian Italian for Black Mountain
• •Sierra Leone — Portuguese for Lion Mountains
• •Ivory Coast — Named by Portuguese traders for the ivory trade
• •Costa Rica — Spanish for Rich Coast, named for its supposed gold wealth
• •Ecuador — Spanish for Equator, as the country sits on the equator

Why Germany Has So Many Names

Germany is a fascinating case study in how countries get different names in different languages. In German, the country is called Deutschland (land of the people). In French it is Allemagne (from the Alamanni tribe). In English it is Germany (from the Latin Germania). In Spanish it is Alemania. In Polish it is Niemcy (meaning mute people — those who could not speak Slavic languages). Each name reflects which Germanic tribe those neighbouring peoples first encountered.

Countries That Changed Their Names

Many countries have changed their names, often following independence from colonial powers or political revolution. Persia became Iran in 1935. Siam became Thailand in 1939. Burma became Myanmar in 1989. Rhodesia became Zimbabwe in 1980. Ceylon became Sri Lanka in 1972. Kampuchea became Cambodia again after the Khmer Rouge period. Upper Volta became Burkina Faso in 1984, meaning Land of Incorruptible People in the local Mossi and Dioula languages.

• •Iran — was Persia until 1935
• •Thailand — was Siam until 1939
• •Myanmar — was Burma until 1989
• •Zimbabwe — was Rhodesia until 1980
• •Sri Lanka — was Ceylon until 1972
• •Burkina Faso — was Upper Volta until 1984
• •North Macedonia — was the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia until 2019
• •Eswatini — was Swaziland until 2018

Names That Got Lost in Translation

Japan is called Nihon or Nippon by the Japanese — meaning origin of the sun or land where the sun rises. The name Japan likely came to Europe via Chinese, where the country was called Cipangu. Marco Polo wrote about Cipangu, which became Giappan in Italian and eventually Japan in English. China similarly comes from the Qin dynasty (pronounced Chin), while the Chinese call their country Zhongguo — meaning Middle Kingdom.

The Newest Country Names

The world's newest country is South Sudan, which became independent in 2011. Its name simply reflects its geographical position — south of Sudan. Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008 (though not universally recognised), takes its name from the region Kosovo Polje meaning Field of Blackbirds in Serbian. East Timor, or Timor-Leste, gained independence in 2002, with Timor meaning East in the local Malay language — making the English name East East.

Many of these countries with fascinating name origins appear in our quizzes — test whether you know their flags, capitals and silhouettes at MyGeoQuiz.