5 U.S. States with Spanish-Origin Names

Many U.S. state names derive from Spanish, reflecting early exploration and colonization. Here are five with their etymologies:

1. Florida — Pascua Florida ("Flowery Easter"), named by Juan Ponce de León (1513) for the Easter season bloom
2. California — From Las sergas de Esplandián (1510 novel), fictional island "California" ruled by Queen Calafia; applied by Hernán Cortés (1530s)
3. Colorado — Colorado ("red-colored"), for the reddish silt of the Colorado River
4. Nevada — Nevada ("snow-covered"), for the Sierra Nevada ("snowy range")
5. Arizona — Likely from O'odham ali ṣonak ("small spring") → Spanish Arizonac → Arizona; or Basque aritz ona ("good oak")

Other Spanish-Origin State Names

• Texas — From Caddo taysha ("friends/allies") → Spanish Tejas
• New Mexico — Nuevo México (named for Aztec Valley of Mexico)
• Montana — Montaña ("mountain")
• Alaska — From Aleut Alaxsxaq → Russian Аляска → English (not Spanish)

Note: The original source listed Alaska as "greatland" — this is a common folk etymology. Alaska derives from Aleut via Russian, not Spanish.