Spanish Origins
- Many believe it comes from the Spanish word "bermudas," meaning "green Islands," referring to the archipelago's green and lush appearance from a distance.
- Another suggestion is "la Barmuda," believed to be the name given by the early Spanish discoverers. Some linguists believe this name evolved over time to become Bermuda.
Saint Bermudus
- Spanish cartographer Juan de la Cosa's 1500 world map features the islands under the name "isla de bermuda" (Bermuda island), which likely refers to Saint Bermudus, a venerated Spanish monk.
The Devil's Isles
- Some Spanish sailors used to call them the "Islas del Diablo" or Devil's Isles.
Other Theories
- It could come from the Arabic "Al-Bardawiyyun," which could be linked to the Arabian traveler Al-Idrisi, who is believed to have mapped Bermuda in the 12th century.
- The Portuguese navigator Gaspar Corte-Real may have named them "La Bermuda," after his vessel, the "Santa Maria de la Bermuda," in 1503.
The name "Bermuda" was used officially for the first time in 1510 on the world map of the Italian explorer, Alberto Cantino.
