What do these country names really mean?

Naming a country is pretty important, wouldn't you say? That said, a lot of people probably don't even know what their country's name means. Unless you're from the United States of America, most countries have names which are quite puzzling, making us go way back through history to find its true translation. Take Argentina, which translates to mean "silvery," named after the light reflecting on the Rio de la Plata. Then there's France, which translates to mean "fierce" or "brave," adding a level of depth to French identity. Click on to make some huge discoveries about country names around the world, and find out the true meaning of your nation's name.

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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.

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

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

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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."

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

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

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

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

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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."

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

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

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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.

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

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

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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."

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

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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."

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

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

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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."

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

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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."

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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."

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

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

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

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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."

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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.

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

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