How did US states get their names?

Great question ! The orig ins of the names of US states are fasc in ating and varied . Most states were named after ge ographical features , Native American tribes , or early sett lers . Here are some examples : \n 1 . Alabama - N amed after the Alabama tribe , which means " th icket - clear er " or " ve get ation gather er ." \n 2 . Al aska - N amed after the Ale ut word " al ax s xa q ," which means " main land ." \n 3 . Arizona - N amed after the O ' od ham word " al ĭ ṣ on ak ," which means " small spring ." \n 4 . Ark ansas - N amed after the Qu ap aw tribe , which means " s outh wind ." \n 5 . California - N amed after the Spanish word for " b ear ," referring to the golden bear em blem of the state . \n 6 . Colorado - N amed after the Spanish word for " r ud dy ," likely referring to the state ' s red rock form ations . \n 7 . Connecticut - N amed after the Mo he gan word " qu inn itu k q ut ," which means " long river place ." \n 8 . Del aware - N amed after Lord De La W arr , an English no blem an who colonial governor . \n 9 . Florida - N amed after the Spanish word for " land of flowers ." \n 1 0 . Georgia - N amed after King George II of England . \n 1 1 1 . Hawai i - N amed after the ind igen ous Hawai ian people and their language . \n 1 2 . Id aho - N amed after the Sh osh one word " ida - ho ," which means " the people ." \n 1 3 . Illinois - N amed after the Alg on qu ian word " ill ini we k ," which means " men " or " war riors ." \n 1 4 . Indiana - N amed after the Miami word " ind ian á : wa ," which means " land of the Indians ." \n 1 5 . Iowa - N amed after the I ow ay tribe , which means " sleep y ones ." \n 1 6 . Kansas - N amed after the K ans a tribe , which means " people of the south wind ." \n 1 7 . Kentucky - N amed after the I ro qu o ian word " k ent ake e ," which means " me adow ." \n 1 8 . Louisiana - N amed after King Louis XIV of France . \n 1 9 . Maine - N amed after the French province of Maine , which was named after the Latin word " ma ine ," meaning " main land ." \n 2 0 . Maryland - N amed after Queen Mary , the wife of King Charles I of England . \n 2 1 . Massachusetts - N amed after the Alg on qu ian word " mass ach us ett ," which means " at or about the great hill ." \n 2 2 . Michigan - N amed after the O j ib we word " m ish ig ama a ," which means " gre at water ." \n 2 3 . Minnesota - N amed after the Dak ota word " m ni ," which means " water ," and " s ota ," which means " sm ooth ." \n 2 4 . Mississippi - N amed after the O j ib we word " m isi - zi ib i ," which means " gre at river ." \n 2 5 . Missouri - N amed after the Miss ou ria tribe , which means " people of the big can o es ." \n 2 6 . Mont ana - N amed after the Spanish word for " mount ain ." \n 2 7 . Neb r aska - N amed after the O to e word " ñ í br ás ge ," which means " flat water ." \n 2 8 . Nev ada - N amed after the Spanish word for " s now - cover ed ." \n 2 9 . New Ham pshire - N amed after the English county of Ham pshire . \n 3 0 . New Jersey - N amed after the English island of Jersey . \n 3 1 . New Mexico - N amed after the Spanish word for " new land ." \n 3 2 . New York - N amed after the Duke of York , who later became King James II of England . \n 3 3 . North Carolina - N amed after King Charles II of England . \n 3 4 . North Dak ota - N amed after the Dak ota word " d ak ota ," which means " al lies ." \n 3 5 . Ohio - N amed after the I ro qu o ian word " oke h ," which means " gre at river ." \n 3 6 . Oklahoma - N amed after the Cho ct aw word " ok la ," which means " people ," and " hum ma ," which means " red ." \n 3 7 . Oregon - N amed after the Spanish word for " or eg on ," which means " west wind ." \n 3 8 . Pennsylvania - N amed after the Latin word " pen ns yl va ," which means " for est land ." \n 3 9 . Rh ode Island - N amed after the Greek island of Rh odes . \n 4 0 . South Carolina - N amed after King Charles II of England . \n 4 1 . South Dak ota - N amed after the