Has china always been called china?

No, China has not always been called China. The name "China" is derived from the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), which was the first unified dynasty of China. Before that, China was known by various names, such as "Zhongguo" (the Middle Kingdom), "Huaxia" (the Land of Splendor), and "Shenzhou" (the Divine Land). The name "China" was first used by Europeans in the 16th century, and it gradually became the most common name for the country in English.