The origins of the names of countries are a fascinating topic, especially because the diversity of such origins is broad, and because most countries have had several names over the years. Also, some countries are known locally by a name that bears no resemblance with the name that has been adopted internationally.
On this map, we list all the nations that owe their name to an individual. Most of these are named after Christian Saints, Biblical figures (Israel, Solomon...) or Jesus Christ himself (El Salvador), and sometimes after a historical figure whose involvement was instrumental in the creation of the country (Amerigo Vespucci, Christopher Columbus, Simon Bolivar, Maurice of the Netherlands, Philip of Spain...). Curiously, only one of the 17 countries we have listed is named after the person that rules it: the House of Liechtenstein, who gained sovereign status when they acquired the Lordship of Vaduz, gave their new land their name. That is, however, one of the smallest countries in the World.
Countries named after a person
