State Names and Their Origins Quiz

Which state was named by Juan Ponce de León in the early 1500s?

• Arizona

• California

• Florida

• Nevada

What was the original name of the country of Mexico before 1821?

• New Spain

• Aztec Land

• Nuevo México

• Old Mexico

Which state was named in honor of Queen Elizabeth I of England?

• New York

• Georgia

• Virginia

• Maryland

What is the origin of the name 'Pennsylvania'?

• Named after a French explorer

• Named after a Native American tribe

• Named after William Penn's father

• Named after a Spanish governor

Which state was named after the largest island in the British Channel?

• Maine

• Rhode Island

• New Hampshire

• New Jersey

What does the name 'Vermont' likely mean?

• Flat Plains

• Green Mountains

• Rocky Hills

• Snowy Peaks

Which state name is derived from an Algonquian word meaning 'long, tidal river'?

• Kentucky

• Tennessee

• Connecticut

• Massachusetts

What is the likely meaning of the name 'Ohio'?

• Big Lake

• Flat Water

• Great River

• Cloudy Water

Which state name is derived from a Choctaw word meaning 'red person'?

• Oklahoma

• Alaska

• Hawaii

• Idaho

What is one theory about the origin of the name 'Oregon'?

• It was named after a British explorer

• It is derived from a Native American word for 'mountain'

• It is named after a French king

• It comes from a Spanish word meaning 'big ears'