Wanderlust World Wanderlust World "Formosa" comes from the Portuguese word formosa, meaning "beautiful." Portuguese sailors bestowed the name on the island in 1593, struck by its lush landscapes. "Formosa" appeared on European maps and in international usage for centuries, persisting into the 20th century.
The name "Taiwan" derives from Indigenous and later Chinese usage, becoming the formal name in the 1700s. Today, "Formosa" survives mainly in historical contexts, literature, and among some overseas communities, while the island's 23 million residents know it exclusively as Taiwan.