Who is America actually named after and what other countries are named after people?
There are actually quite a few. Here’s a list: * Bermuda – Juan de Bermúdez (crown colony) * Bharath – another name for India (Bharath was a prince, son of King Dushyanta and Shakuntala) * Bolivia – Simón Bolívar * Cambodia – Cambu Svayambhuva * Colombia – Christopher Columbus (after the Italian version of his name) * El Salvador – “The Saviour”, Jesus * Israel – Jacob (alternative name) * Kiribati – Thomas Gilbert * Liechtenstein – Anton Florian of Liechtenstein * Marshall Islands – John Marshall * Mauritius – Maurice of Nassau * Philippines – Philip II of Spain * Saint Kitts and Nevis – Saint Christopher * Saint Lucia – Lucy of Syracuse (?) * Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Saint Vincent * San Marino – Saint Marinus * São Tomé and Príncipe – Saint Thomas * Saudi Arabia – Muhammad bin Saud * Seychelles – Jean Moreau de Sechelles * Solomon Islands – Solomon * The United States of America – Amerigo Vespucci
