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Alabama: From the Alibamu, tribe of Indians, members of the Creek Confederacy. The name may have come from words in the Choctaw language, "Alba ayamute" meaning "I clear the thicket."

Alaska: From the Aleut word "Alakshak", meaning "peninsula"; used by the aleuts in referring to the part of the mainland that is now known as the Alaskan peninsula.

Arizona: Not yet really proved, but possibly from Papago Indian words for "small springs," which the Spanish fitted to their own pronunciation.

Arkansas: From local Indians, The Quapaws, meaning "downstream people". Called arkansa by the French.

Connecticut: From the Indian expression "quinnitukg-ut", meaning "at the long tidal river."

Hawaii: Possibly from "Havaiki" or "Hawaiki," which according to legend was the name of the original homeland of the Polynesians.

Idaho: The New Book of Knowledge 1983 states: "According to the Idaho Blue Book, a settler corned the name and proposed it for the U.S. Territory created in 1861; it was rejected in favor of "Colorado" for that territory, but it became popular and was given to the territory (Idaho) created in 1863."

Illinois: From the Indian word "ilhiniwek" or "illiniwek". "Illini" meant "man" and the ending made the word plural. The French changed the word to illinois.

Indiana: From the word "Indian" plus the "a" ending used in many geographical names.

Iowa: From a Dakota Indian word: the name had many different spellings until it became "Ioway" and the "Iowa".

Kansas: From "Kansa", the name of a tribe of Indians who once lived in the area; first applied to the river, then to the state.

Kentucky: Probably related to the Iroquois Indian word "Kenta" -- "level" or "Meadow-land" referring to the level land in the south central part of the state.

Massachusetts: From Massachuset Indians, who lived around the Blue hills near Boston, meaning "about the big hill".

Michigan: Chippewa - "Michigama" meaning "Large lake" or "big water".

Minnesota: Dakota - "Minisota" meaning "White water".

Mississippi: Indian word meaning "big river". (Choctaw meaning "Great water" or "Father of Waters".)

Missouri: Indian mis meaning "big". "Owners of big canoes".

Nebraska: Oto Indians "Nebrathka" meaning flat water.

New Mexico: Named after an Aztec god named "Mertili".

Ohio: Iroquois - "Oheo" meaning "beautiful".

Oklahoma: Chocraw - "Oklahummaa" or "Oklahomma" meaning "red people".

South & North Dakota: "Dahkota" meaning allies or friends -- tribes who joined together in friendship.

Tennessee: Cherokee village "Tanasi" meaning "unknown".

Texas: Caddo Indians - "Techas" meaning allies or friends.

Utah: Ute Indians called themselves "Yuta" meaning people who live high in the mountains"

Wisconsin: "Wishkonsing" -- place of the beaver.

Wyoming: From Indian words meaning "On the Great Plain."