The Surprising Stories Behind 50 Country Names

Azerbaijan has massive amounts of oil and natural gas, and when gas escapes to the surface it can ignite. The nation’s name comes from the ancient Persian name Aturpatakan, which translates to “A place where the sacred fire is preserved.”

Estonia’s name is said to be derived from a German word for east. Another theory is that the name comes from a native name meaning “waterside dwellers.”

There are two theories on how Hungary was named. One is that it was called “10 Arrows” after the name of the tribes who migrated there in the ninth century. The other theory is that it comes from the Medieval Latin word “Hungaria,” which likely means “land of the Huns,” after Attila the Hun conquered much of Europe in the fifth century.

Kazakhstan’s name is derived from the Turkish word for “horsemen” or the “riders of the steppes.” Fully translated, the name means “land of the horsemen”

The name Latvia comes from the word “latvis,” meaning “forest clearer.” .