© Shutterstock

Portugal - The country's name is derived from the Latin phrase for "warm port," which referred to the city of Porto, specifically how its harbor was never frozen over.

© Shutterstock

Sweden - Sweden means "Land of the Svear." The Svear were a Germanic people who lived around Lake Mälaren.

© Shutterstock

France - France is supposedly named after the "Franks," a Germanic people, who were named after the Old German "franka," meaning "fierce" or "brave."

© Getty Images

Germany - "Germani" referred to the Germanic tribes who were settling in around the river Rhine. However, "Deutschland" refers to the Old High German "diutisc," which means "of the people." Therefore, Germany basically translates to "Land of the People."

© Shutterstock

England - Land of the angels? No, England actually means "land of the angles," referring to the Old English "Engla land."

© Shutterstock

Canada - Canada is supposedly derived from the word "kanata," a Huron-Iroquois word meaning "village" or "settlement."

© Shutterstock

Cuba - Cuba is said to take its name from the Taino word "Cubanacan," which means "center place."

© Shutterstock

Jamaica - Jamaica's name comes from the Arawak people, who named it "Xaymaca" or "Yamaya," meaning "Land of Wood and Water."

© Shutterstock

Mexico - The country's name is a simplified version of the name Metztlixihtlico, which means "In the Navel of the Moon."

© Shutterstock

Trinidad and Tobago - Christopher Columbus named the island country in the 15th century. It translates to mean "Island of the Holy Trinity and Tobacco."

© Shutterstock

Argentina - Argentina was originally called "Tierra Argentina," which translates to "Land beside the Silvery River." The "Silvery River" refers to the Rio de la Plata, and "Argentina" translates to "Silvery."

© Shutterstock

Brazil - The country is most likely named after "brazilwood," a red wood from an East Indian tree, which is used to make dye.

© Shutterstock

Venezuela - Venezuela reminded Spanish colonizers of Venice, so they basically named it "Little Venice."

© Shutterstock

Australia - It was the Greeks who came up with the name "Terra Australis Incognita," which means "Unknown Southern Land." Australia then, translates to mean "Southern Land."

© Shutterstock

Papua New Guinea - "Papua" can be traced back to the Malay "papuah," a descriptor of the naturally frizzy hair of Melanesians. "New Guinea" came from explorers, as the locals reminded them of Guineans from Africa.

© Shutterstock

Kenya - Kenya is a shortened name for "Kirinyaga," a Kikuyu word which comes from the Swahili "kere nyaga," which apparently means "Mountain of Whiteness."

© Shutterstock

Nigeria - "Ia" is a Latinate suffix meaning "land." Therefore, Nigeria means "Land of the Niger River."

© Shutterstock

India - Keeping in mind the Latinate "Ia," the name "India" refers to "Land of the River Indus." The word "Indus" most likely refers to the Sanskrit "sindhu," meaning "the sea."

© Shutterstock

Japan - The English word for Japan actually comes from the Chinese name for the country, "Cipangu." The country's name apparently means "Land of the Rising Sun."

© Shutterstock

Malaysia - Malaysia's name perhaps comes from the Tamil words "malali" and "ur," meaning "mountain" and "city." Together: mountain city. 

© Shutterstock

Saudi Arabia - The word "Saudi" refers to the Sa'ūd ibn Muhammad ibn Muqrin dynasty. The word actually means "good fortune," making the country's literal translation, "Land of Good Fortune."

© Shutterstock

Thailand - "Thai" means "Free," which makes Thailand's translation "Land of the Free."

© Shutterstock

Italy - Italy can be traced back to the Vitali tribe, whose name has been linked to the Latin word "vitulus," which translates to "calf." The word "Italy" can be translated to "Sons of the Bull."

© Shutterstock

Egypt - The Greeks and Romans named the country "Aiguptos" and "Ægyptus," respectfully. Both are linked to the Egyptian "hūt-kā-ptah," meaning "Temple of the Soul of Ptah."

© Shutterstock

Morocco - Morocco's name apparently comes from the Arabic "Maghrib-al-Aqsa," meaning "Extreme West."

© Shutterstock

Indonesia - Indonesia takes its name from the Greek "Indos Nesos," which translates to mean "Indian Islands."

© Shutterstock

Pakistan - Pakistan is a composite name from the regions of Punjab, Afghan Frontier, Kashmir, and Baluchistan. It could also come from the Iranian "pak," meaning "pure," so Pakistan could mean "pure country."

© Shutterstock

Bangladesh - Bangladesh means "Land of the Bengalis." "Desh" can be traced back to "deś," meaning "land" or "country," while the Bengali people take their name from Chief Banga, of the Bang tribe.

© Shutterstock

Ethiopia - It was the Greeks who named this country "Aithiops," meaning "Land of Burnt Faces."

© Shutterstock

Greece -

Greece's name literally translates to "Land of the Ionians."

Also explore the countries named after real-life people. 

© Shutterstock