America, China, and other countries named after people

Naming a country is pretty important. Along with a flag and a national anthem, names like America and France can help define a whole national identity. Country names can be inspired by anything. Algeria roughly translates to "the islands," Cape Verde means "green cape," and Costa Rica means "rich coast." However, this gallery will look at the people who are so important, they have a whole country named after them. You may be surprised to find out, some of the most famous countries around the world are named after real people or historical figures. Click on to explore these countries and the people who inspired their all-important names.

China

C'mon, does China really need an introduction? The colossal country is populated by well over a billion people.

Emperor Qin

The nation gets its name from Emperor Qin, pronounced "Chin." Qin Shi Huang was the first emperor of a unified China.

United States of America

Oh, good old USA. The influential country is the third or fourth largest country, depending on who you ask.

Colombia

Colombia is a South American sovereign state. It's one of the most diverse countries in the world, both ethnically and linguistically.

Bolivia

The landlocked country is located in South America, and used to be a colony of Spain.

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is found on the island of Hispaniola. It had been inhabited by the Taíno people since the 7th century.

Philippines

The archipelagic country is found in Southeast Asia. The Philippines consists of over 7,600 islands.

Israel

Israel is located east of the Mediterranean Sea. It became an independent country in 1948.

Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked microstate, located in Central Europe. It has a small population of around 40,000, with a hugely successful economy.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

This country is located on an island arc in the West Indies. The country has a French and British colonial history.

Russia

The transcontinental behemoth is the world's largest country.

Saint Lucia

The small island country is populated by around 180,000 people. It was previously named Iyonola, by the native Amerindians.

Solomon Islands

Over 900 islands make up this sovereign state, which can be found in the Oceania area.

San Marino

AKA the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, this sunny microstate is surrounded by Italy.

Uzbekistan

With a rich history and culture, Uzbekistan is perhaps a little overlooked when it comes to Central Asian countries.

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis is an underrated island country located in the West Indies.

Saint Christopher

Saint Christopher is the inspiration for the country's name. He is the patron saint of travelers, and it's said that he once carried Christ across a river.