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What Do You Call People from Different States?
Aug 5, 2026
A guide to U.S. resident nicknames
Whether you’re in the process of figuring out where to live, planning a trip or just curious about different states, it’s interesting to learn about the nicknames for state residents.
Nicknames and official monikers can vary greatly. Let’s review the information for each state so you’ll be in the know wherever you go!
What is a demonym?
A demonym is a word used to describe a person or group of people from a particular location, like a country, state or town.
For example, people from the United States of America are referred to as Americans.
How are nicknames different?
State nicknames and other monikers are often unofficial designations made by residents and not recognized by the government. Sometimes residents prefer nicknames to official demonyms.
Official state demonyms and more
Scroll through the chart below to view official state demonyms, additional monikers, state nicknames and more.
| State | Postal Abbrev. | Official demonym | Other monikers | State nicknames | Statehood date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | AL | Alabamian | Alabammer, ‘Bamer | The Yellowhammer State, The Heart of Dixie, The Cotton State | 1819 |
| Alaska | AK | Alaskan | Alaska Native (preferred by those descended from native residents) | The Last Frontier | 1959 |
| Arizona | AZ | Arizonan | Arizonian | The Grand Canyon State, The Copper State, The Valentine State | 1912 |
| Arkansas | AR | Arkansan | Arkansawyer, Arkie | The Natural State | 1836 |
| California | CA | Californian | Californiac, Californio | The Golden State | 1850 |
| Colorado | CO | Coloradan | Coloradoan | The Centennial State | 1876 |
| Connecticut | CT | Connecticuter | Connecticotian, Connecticutian, Nutmegger | The Constitution State (official), The Nutmeg State, The Provisions State, The Land of Steady Habits | 1788 |
| Delaware | DE | Delawarean | Muskrat | The First State; The Small Wonder, Blue Hen State, The Diamond State | 1787 |
| Florida | FL | Floridian | Floridan | Sunshine State | 1845 |
| Georgia | GA | Georgian | Peach | Peach State, Empire State of the South | 1788 |
| Hawaii | HI | Hawaii Resident | Hawaiian, Islander | The Aloha State (official), Paradise of the Pacific, The Islands of Aloha, The 808 State | 1959 (the newest state) |
| Idaho | ID | Idahoan | Idahoer | The Gem State (official), The Potato State | 1890 |
| Illinois | IL | Illinoisan | Illinoian, Illinoyer | Land of Lincoln, Prairie State, The Inland Empire State | 1818 |
| Indiana | IN | Hoosier | Indianian, Indianer | The Hoosier State | 1816 |
| Iowa | IA | Iowan | Hawkeye, Iowegian | The Hawkeye State | 1846 |
| Kansas | KS | Kansan | Kanswer, Jayhawk | The Sunflower State (official), The Wheat State, America's Heartland | 1861 |
| Kentucky | KY | Kentuckian | Kentucker, Kentuckyite | The Bluegrass State | 1792 |
| Louisiana | LA | Louisianian | Louisianan | Pelican State (official), Bayou Stat, Creole State, Sportsman's Paradise, The Boot | 1812 |
| Maine | ME | Mainer | Down Easter, Maineiac (or Mainiac) | The Pine Tree State, Vacationland | 1820 |
| Maryland | MD | Marylander | Marylandian | Old Line State, Free State, Little America, America in Miniature | 1788 |
| Massachusetts | MA | Massachusettsan | Bay Stater (preferred by residents), Massachusite | The Bay State (official), The Pilgrim State; The Puritan State, The Old Colony State, The Baked Bean State | 1788 |
| Michigan | MI | Michiganian | Michiganders (often preferred by residents), Wolverine | The Great Lake State, The Wolverine State, The Mitten State, Water (Winter) Wonderland | 1837 |
| Minnesota | MN | Minnesotan | Minnesotian | Land of 10,000 Lakes, North Star State, Gopher State | 1858 |
| Mississippi | MS | Mississippian | Mississipper | The Magnolia State, The Hospitality State | 1817 |
| Missouri | MO | Missourian | Missouran | Show Me State, Cave State, Mother of the West | 1821 |
| Montana | MT | Montanan | Montanian | Big Sky Country, The Treasure State | 1889 |
| Nebraska | NE | Nebraskan | Cornhuskers | The Cornhusker State | 1867 |
| Nevada | NV | Nevadan | Nevadian | The Silver State (official), The Sagebrush State, The Battle Born State | 1864 |
| New Hampshire | NH | New Hampshirite | New Hampshireman, Granite Stater | The Granite State, The White Mountain State | 1788 |
| New Jersey | NJ | New Jerseyan | New Jerseyite, Jerseyite | The Garden State | 1787 |
| New Mexico | NM | New Mexican | Hispanos (used by some locals who are descendants of original settlers from Spain) | The Land of Enchantment | 1912 |
| New York | NY | New Yorker | Empire Stater | The Empire State | 1788 |
| North Carolina | NC | North Carolinian | Tar Heel | Tarheel State; Old North State | 1789 |
| North Dakota | ND | North Dakotan | NoDak | Peace Garden State, Roughrider State, Flickertail State, Heaven on Earth | 1889 |
| Ohio | OH | Ohioan | Buckeye | The Buckeye State, Birthplace of Aviation, The Heart of It All | 1803 |
| Oklahoma | OK | Oklahoman | Oklahomians, Oklahomie, Okie, Sooner | Land of the Red Man, Sooner State | 1907 |
| Oregon | OR | Oregonian | Oregoner | The Beaver State | 1859 |
| Pennsylvania | PA | Pennsylvanian | Pennsylvanier, Pennamite | Keystone State, Quaker State | 1787 |
| Rhode Island | RI | Rhode Islander | Rhodian | The Ocean State, Little Rhody | 1790 |
| South Carolina | SC | South Carolinian | South Carolinan, Sandlapper | The Palmetto State | 1788 |
| South Dakota | SD | South Dakotan | N/A | The Mount Rushmore State | 1889 |
| Tennessee | TN | Tennessean | Volunteer, Big Bender, Butternut | The Volunteer State | 1796 |
| Texas | TX | Texans | Texian, Tejano | The Lone Star State | 1845 |
| Utah | UT | Utah | Utahan | Beehive State (official), The Mormon State, Deseret | 1896 |
| Vermont | VT | Vermonter | N/A | The Green Mountain State | 1791 |
| Virginia | VA | Virginian | N/A | Old Dominion, Mother of Presidents | 1788 |
| Washington | WA | Washingtonian | 'Toner | The Evergreen State | 1889 |
| West Virginia | WV | West Virginian | Mountaineer | Mountain State | 1863 |
| Wisconsin | WI | Wisconsinite | Cheesehead, Badger | Badger State, America's Dairyland | 1848 |
| Wyoming | WY | Wyomingite | Wyomingian, Wyoman | Equality State (official), Cowboy State, Big Wyoming | 1890 |
Which state has the most unusual official moniker?
Most states’ official demonyms are created by adding a suffix to the state name, but Indiana is an outlier. Indiana’s residents are called Hoosiers, in line with the state nickname, the Hoosier State.
Although “Hoosier” has been used in print as early as the early 1830s, its origin remains unknown. There are several theories, but no concrete evidence.
Other unusual state nicknames
While not the official demonyms, these states also have interesting and silly unofficial nicknames.
Buckeye (Ohio)
Known for its famous buckeye tree, this nickname is widely recognized.
Cheesehead (Wisconsin)
This insult from rival football fans led residents of the state to adopt the nickname with pride.
Nutmegger (Connecticut)
This nickname dates to colonial times, likely due to the state’s trade in nutmeg, but its official origin remains a mystery.
Tar Heel (North Carolina)
North Carolina's history includes heavy production of tar from abundant pine resin in the 18th and 19th centuries — this left residents with tar on their shoes, leading to the nickname.
Moving to another state?
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What’s your favorite state nickname or demonym? Let us know in the comments.
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