What would America look like if the Romans had named it?

Someone actually did this. They translated all 50 state names into Latin, following the grammar rules of classical Latin.

Some translations are straightforward. Montana becomes Montāna (already basically Latin). California stays California. Colorado turns into Cōlorātum.

Others get weird. Washington becomes Vashintōnia. Massachusetts becomes Massaciussēta. Minnesota is Minnesōta. They just Latinized the spelling and added Latin endings.

The English-named states had to get creative. New York becomes Novum Eboracum. Why Eboracum? That was what Romans called the city of York in England. New Jersey is Nova Caesarēa. Pennsylvania becomes Pennsilvania or Silvānia Penni, which actually makes sense since it means Penn’s Woods in English anyway.

U.S. States in Latin – Complete Table

English Name	Latin Name	Notes
Alabama	Alabāma	Feminine ending
Alaska	Alasca	Latinized spelling
Arizona	Arizōna	Feminine ending
Arkansas	Arcānsa	Phonetic Latin spelling
California	California	Already Latin-like
Colorado	Cōlorātum	Neuter ending, means “colored”
Connecticut	Cōnneticūtia	Latinized with -ia ending
Delaware	Delevāria	Latinized spelling
Florida	Flōrida	Already Latin (flowery)
Georgia	Georgia	Already Latin form
Hawaii	Havaī	Latinized spelling
Idaho	Idahum	Neuter ending
Illinois	Illinoēsia	Latinized with -ia ending
Indiana	Indiāna	Already Latin-like
Iowa	Iova	Latinized spelling
Kansas	Cansia	Latin phonetic spelling
Kentucky	Kentucīa	Latinized with -ia ending
Louisiana	Ludovīciāna	From Ludovicus (Louis in Latin)
Maine	Cennomanica	From Roman name for the region
Maryland	Terra Mariae	“Land of Mary”
Massachusetts	Massaciussēta	Latinized spelling
Michigan	Michigania	Latinized with -ia ending
Minnesota	Minnesōta	Latinized spelling
Mississippi	Mississippia	Latinized with -ia ending
Missouri	Missūria	Latinized spelling
Montana	Montāna	Already Latin (mountainous)
Nebraska	Nebrasca	Latinized spelling
Nevada	Nivāta	Already Latin-like (snowy)
New Hampshire	Nova Hantescira	“New” + Latinized Hampshire
New Jersey	Nova Caesarēa	“New” + Latin for Jersey
New Mexico	Novum Mexicum	“New Mexico” in Latin
New York	Novum Eboracum	Eboracum = Roman York
North Carolina	Carolina Septentriōnālis	“Northern Carolina”
North Dakota	Dacōta Septentriōnālis	“Northern Dakota”
Ohio	Ohium	Neuter ending
Oklahoma	Oclahōma	Latinized spelling
Oregon	Oregōnia	Latinized with -ia ending
Pennsylvania	Pennsilvania / Silvānia Penni	“Penn’s Woods”
Rhode Island	Insula Rhodēnsis	“Island of Rhodes”
South Carolina	Carolina Merīdiōnālis	“Southern Carolina”
South Dakota	Dacōta Merīdiōnālis	“Southern Dakota”
Tennessee	Tennesia	Latinized with -ia ending
Texas	Texia	Latinized spelling
Utah	Ūta	Latinized spelling
Vermont	Mons Viridis	“Green Mountain” (literal translation)
Virginia	Virginia	Already Latin form
Washington	Vashintōnia	Latinized spelling
West Virginia	Virginia Occidentālis	“Western Virginia”
Wisconsin	Vīnsconsinia	Latinized spelling
Wyoming	Vyomīna	Latinized spelling

The Virginias are easy. Virginia becomes… Virginia (Romans would’ve used this word). West Virginia is Virginia Occidentālis.

North and South Carolina turn into Carolina Septentriōnālis and Carolina Merīdiōnālis. Georgia becomes Georgia. Maryland is Terra Mariae (Land of Mary).

Rhode Island becomes Insula Rhodēnsis. Connecticut is Cōnneticūtia. Delaware is Delevāria.

Every Latin noun has a gender. The translator had to pick whether each state was masculine, feminine, or neuter. Most ended up feminine (the -a ending). Idaho is neuter (Idahum). A few got masculine forms.

The Dakotas are Dacōta Septentriōnālis and Dacōta Merīdiōnālis. Nebraska is Nebrasca. Kansas is Cansia. Missouri is Missūria.

Idaho is Idahum. Utah is Ūta. Wyoming is Vyomīna. Oregon is Oregōnia. Nevada is Nivāta, which works because “Nevada” already means snowy.

Alaska is Alasca. Hawaii is Havaī. Florida stays Florida (already proper Latin). Louisiana is Ludovīciāna, from Ludovicus (the Latin version of Louis).

This is what the United States would be called if Rome had somehow discovered America 1,500 years early.