Do You Know the Original Names of These Countries?

An ongoing series of peace agreements in the 19th century put the "truce" in the Trucial States (also known as the Trucial Coast) and paved the way for the future unification of the United Arab Emirates. The seven city-states of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm Al Qaiwain, Fujairah, Ajmanm, and Ras Al Khaimah formed their official federation in 1971.

Known today as Taiwan, this East Asian nation was formerly called the Republic of Formosa. The name was inspired by 16th-century Portuguese explorers, who called the area “Ilha Formosa,” or “beautiful island.” On May 23, 1895, the island declared its independence from Japan and established the Republic of Formosa. The name remained until the end of World War II, after which the island became known as Taiwan.

Helvetia is the Latin name for present-day western Switzerland. The Celtic Helvetii people migrated to Switzerland during the reign of the Roman Empire. They were talented craftsmen and belonged to the largest of 11 Celtic tribes that left Germany. Today, you'll see the word "Helvetia" on Swiss currency, and Helvetia represents the personification of Switzerland, similar to Lady Liberty in the U.S.

The Ethiopian Empire, which covered the northern part of what's now Ethiopia, was also known as Abyssinia. The Solomonic dynasty was founded by the Abyssinians in 1270, and they ruled until the 20th century. The official switch to Ethiopia happened during World War II. However, some scholars have argued that the country has always been called Ethiopia, and Abyssinia was a name popularized by Arabs.

The name Albion was in use for the island of Great Britain as early as the fourth century BCE. It's also one of the oldest words in the English language and likely came from the Latin word "albus," meaning "white." The fitting name references the White Cliffs of Dover on the island's southeastern coast.

Shortly after gaining its independence from Belgium in 1960, the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa changed its name to the Republic of Zaire. The change was mandated by Mobutu Sese Seko, the president at the time. The word “Zaire” translates to “great river” in the region’s local languages, a reference to the Congo River. After Mobutu was overthrown in 1971, the country’s previous name was restored.

Long before North and South Korea divided, the Korean Peninsula was one kingdom under the name Choson (sometimes spelled Joseon), after the powerful Choson dynasty. This was the longest-lasting imperial dynasty of Korea, reigning from 1392 until 1910. The capital city of the kingdom was Hanyang, which is modern-day Seoul.

The Emerald Isle once went by a name given to the island by the ancient Romans and Greeks — who never actually encountered the island themselves. Reports were collected from travelers and traders, but Hibernia was never conquered by the Roman Empire. After the fall of Rome, Christian missionaries traveled to the island and began efforts to exert Christian influence over what became known as Ireland.

The U.S. Virgin Islands — made up of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix — weren’t always an American territory. They were originally home to Indigenous peoples such as the Arawaks and the Caribs, but they were later colonized by the Danes, who called them the Danish West Indies. Denmark sold the territory to the U.S. on March 31, 1917.

The name Macedonia refers to a broad geographic region with a rich history — much of which falls within the borders of Greece today, but parts of which include several other Balkan nations. When the Republic of Macedonia emerged from former Yugoslavia in 1991, Greece disputed its claim to the Macedonia name. After decades of disagreement, the two countries finally reached a compromise in 2019, and the Republic of Macedonia became known as North Macedonia.

In 1989, the Southeast Asian country of Burma officially changed its name to Myanmar (and also changed the names of many of its cities). Some countries — including the U.S. — did not formally recognize the switch, claiming it was done without the approval of citizens. It’s still common to use the two names interchangeably, but Myanmar is the country’s official name.

The South Asian country of Bangladesh has gone through a few name changes in recent history. Bangladesh makes up the eastern portion of the historical region of Bengal, which was once a province of British India. When India split in 1947, it became a Pakistani province called East Bengal and was then renamed East Pakistan. It was the only province of Pakistan located on the opposite side of India. In 1971, the region became the independent country of Bangladesh.

Gaul, or “Gallia” in Latin, was the ancient name for the land comprising modern-day France. It also included parts of Belgium, western Germany, and northern Italy. The word “Gaul” is derived from the name of the Celtic people who lived in the area around the fifth century BCE. Gaul was an important part of Roman culture, and many of the amphitheaters and aqueducts built during Gallic times are still standing today.

Mesopotamia, which means “Land Between the Rivers” in Greek, was an ancient region in modern-day Iraq that was home to some of humanity’s earliest civilizations, including Babylon and Assyria. The wealthy region changed hands many times over the centuries, and has been part of the Persian, Greek, and Roman dynasties. Iraq became a nation after gaining its independence from the British Empire in 1932.

Before Thailand was known as such, the Southeast Asian country was called Siam, which comes from a Sanskrit word that Portuguese explorers adopted for the country in the 16th century. The name Thailand has a double meaning in the Thai language: It means both “Land of the Free” and “Land of the Thai People.”