List of countries named after people

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This is a list of countries and dependent territories named after people.

Sovereign countries named after people

Country Source of name
Bolivia Simón Bolívar
Colombia Christopher Columbus
Dominican Republic Saint Dominic
El Salvador Jesus (literally, The Savior)
Georgia Saint George
Israel Jacob, who was also called Israel in the Bible
Kiribati Thomas Gilbert ("Kiribati" is the Gilbertese rendition of "Gilberts")
Liechtenstein Princely Family of Liechtenstein
Marshall Islands John Marshall
Mauritius Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange
Mozambique Mussa Mbiki
Nicaragua Nicarao
Philippines King Philip II of Spain
Rhodesia (former name of Zimbabwe) Cecil Rhodes
Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Christopher
Saint Lucia Saint Lucy
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent of Saragossa
San Marino Saint Marinus
São Tomé and Príncipe Saint Thomas and Prince of Portugal to whom duties on the island's sugar crop were paid
Saudi Arabia Muhammad bin Saud
Seychelles Jean Moreau de Séchelles
Solomon Islands King Solomon of Israel and Judah
Swaziland King Mswati II
United States of America Amerigo Vespucci (see Naming of America)
Uzbekistan Öz Beg Khan
Venezuela (The Bolivarian Republic of) Simón Bolívar

Countries named after legendary figures

Country Source of name
Belarus Rus (legendary figure)
Cambodia Sage Kambu Swayambhuva
Czech Republic Čech (legendary figure)
Denmark Dan (king) (legendary figure, uncertain etymology)
Djibouti "Djibouti" means "Land of Tehuti" or "Land of Thoth", after the Egyptian Moon God
Hellenic Republic (Greece) Hellen
Hungary Hunor (or Magyarország — Magor)
Bhārat (India) Bharata
Éire (Ireland) Éire (Ériu), a Celtic fertility goddess
Laos possibly after Lava
Lechia (historical and/or alternative name of Poland)Lech (legendary figure)
Norway Nór (legendary figure, dubious origin of etymology)
Romania from "Rome" / "Roman", which possibly comes from Romulus
Russia Rus (legendary figure)

Former countries named after people

Country Source of name
Principality of Antioch, now part of Turkey Antiochus, father of Seleucus I Nicator
Lotharingia (Lorraine), now part of Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands Lothair I

Dependent territories named after people

Territory Source of name
Baker Island Michael Baker
Bermuda Juan de Bermúdez
Bouvet Island Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier
Clipperton Island John Clipperton
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Captain William Keeling
Cook Islands Captain James Cook
Falkland Islands Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland
Jan Mayen Jan Jacobszoon May van Schellinkhout
Jarvis Island Edward, Thomas and William Jarvis
Johnston Atoll Captain Charles J. Johnston
Juan de Nova João da Nova
Kingman Reef Captain W. E. Kingman
Isle of Man Manannán mac Lir
Martinique Martin of Tours
Norfolk Island Wife of Edward Howard, 9th Duke of Norfolk
Northern Mariana Islands Mariana of Austria
Pitcairn Islands Robert Pitcairn (midshipman)
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Helena of Constantinople, Tristão da Cunha
Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Peter and Saint Michael
Sint Maarten Martin of Tours
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands George III of the United Kingdom and John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich
Tromelin Island Chevalier de Tromelin
Virgin Islands Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgins
Wake Island William Wake
Wallis and Futuna Samuel Wallis

See also

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