The name "California" is believed to have originated from a 16th-century Spanish romance novel titled "Las Sergas de Esplandián". In the novel, the protagonist, Esplandián, travels to a mythical island called "California", which was depicted as a land of great wealth and beauty.
When Was California Named?
The name "California" was first applied to the region of North America that is now the state of California in 1542 by Spanish explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo. Cabrillo is credited with being the first European to explore what is now the coast of California. He named the region "California" after the mythical island in the Spanish romance novel.
What Does California Mean?
The meaning of the name "California" is uncertain, but it is generally believed to be derived from the Spanish word "calida" (hot) and "fornia" (furnace). Another theory suggests that it comes from the Arabic word "Khalifat" or "Caliph", meaning "leader of the faithful".
