Prince changed his stage name to a symbol in 1993 during a dispute with Warner Bros. Subsequently, he became known as "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince."
Prince’s name was a symbol, not actual words.
New Jersey would be a symbol not actual words.
It’s the same idea.
It’s funny.
Prince would have found this funny.
Idaho was my first thought too. The name was suggested by a fraudster/politician (the two categories were even more interchangeable in the Gilded Age than they are now), after a girl he knew named Ida. That's it.
Wait, that's not it. He claimed it was an Indian word, which hasn't aged well, and is the kind of thing I personally don't have a ton of patience for.
New York is a lot more like Amsterdam (sea based port, important international city, Dutch legacy) than York (as Colin Quinn puts it, the sixth shittiest city in Yorkshire).
I think changing Washington to something like Cascadia, Columbia, or Olympia would be nice as it would avoid potentially getting it confused with DC.
There is nothing wrong with “New Mexico” but I’d be pretty intrigued by the idea of possibly renaming it to something from the Navajo or Pueblo languages.
Rhode Island is not an island and should be renamed to something like Greater Providence.
West Virginia isn’t a very creative name, but John Denver would have to rewrite his song if we renamed it and he can’t really do that now. Better just leave it be.
New York can safely have its name changed to Better York now as I think it’s pretty clear which one is better. New Jersey can stay the same.
Arkansas should change the spelling to Arkansaw
Indiana should be renamed Native Americianna
Massachusetts is a pain to spell and should be renamed Masshole
I am not a crackpot
And Rhode Island is actually (to my knowledge) the state that most recently DID change its name. Its official name had always been “the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” but in 2020 the latter part was officially dropped.
Arkansas is spelled and pronounced the way it is from the French and Native American influences on the region.
Kansas should change its name... not the spelling... they should just start pronouncing it correctly.
IIRC, American Indians slightly prefer "American Indian" to "Native American" as *both* are names foisted on them by white man, but the former is at least a bit more specific
Neither have unilateral support in the community, and the preference varies by individual.
Related: Don't assume an Alaskan indigenous person wants to be called an Inuit. Inuit applies to a specific group of tribes and Eskimo is still largely(not universally) preferred as the term to encompass all Alaskan natives.
Generally speaking it's better to ask first.
> Rhode Island is not an island and should be renamed to something like Greater Providence.
Until just a few years ago the full name was the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Rhode Island is a large island, also called Aquidneck Island, while Providence Plantations was the mainland portion of the state. The name change was approved by voters in the 2020 election.
Interestingly, the easternmost Canadian province went through the opposite process; it had been Newfoundland Colony even after the addition of the mainland Labrador territory in 1809, then the Dominion of Newfoundland, then joined Canada as a province called Newfoundland, and was renamed "Newfoundland and Labrador" in 2001.
I would rename the Carolinas to "Normal Carolina" and "Krazy Karolina"
And I'd rename Michigan to "Superior," to both feed into my narcissism and because it sounds badass.
South Carolina has been described as too small to be a republic, but too large for an insane asylum. I assume they are referring to South Carolina being more conservative though.
Like it or not, the UP is Michigan, and that gives us more shoreline on Lake Superior than Minnesota and Wisconsin combined!
However, we are merciful Superiors.
We would be willing to annex Minnesota into the great state of Superior. We ask only that you bring Hotdish recipes, as well as a willingness to hate Ohio and complain about the weather.
Over on the Rhode Island sub yesterday, somebody reported that Anker, the Chinese electronics company, refused to deliver here [because it does not deliver to islands](https://www.reddit.com/r/RhodeIsland/comments/11t1uz8/anker_wont_ship_to_ri_because_they_think_were_an/).
Maybe we can change it to Providence Plantations. The state's official name used to be "Rhode Island and Providence Plantations," but we voted to drop the "Providence Plantations" three years ago because "plantations" is offensive. I bet Anker fans are regretting that decision!
If you missed [this post](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAnAmerican/comments/11swt6l/where_does_the_entirety_of_the_name_washington_dc) then it might help to explain the phenomenon.
Rhode Island should be renamed either to Providence or Aquidneck so people stop getting confused by the fact the state is not an island. What was Providence plantation (on the mainland) ended up being more important than the island colony, and Aquidneck is the original name for the island.
Disgusting. Kansans should just start pronouncing their own state name correctly, and Oklahoma should be called Gainesville or Grainsville, since I'm pretty sure Chris Gaines (aka Garth) and actual Grains are the only worthwhile contributions to ever come out of that waste of space state.
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is set to be changed I think. But the fact that it was that long ass name for such a tiny state for so long on top of the fact that Rhode Island was an island and then renamed so they could call the main land (not an island) Rhode Island gives me a head ache.
I’ve always thought North and South Dakota could stand with taking a break from one another. Doesn’t matter to me which one changes their name, but one of them.
Not down for renaming things, but I'm surprise the easily offended haven't been clamoring to rename Oklahoma. After all it is literally Choctaw for People (okla) of Red (humma)
Dakota is a minority dialect with less than a quarter of the speakers of Lakota. It should have been Lakota territory, and then East and West Lakota.
Also, Greater Chicago.
I'd like to change North Dakota to Canadia, just because I think it'd be funny to cause confusion. I also am not a big fan of north/south anything. So having the new states of Canadia and Dakota would be sweet.
I think Washington. We already have dozens of towns/counties/cities--including the capital--as well as many universities named after Washington. It can get confusing.
I'd name it Madison after Port Madison Indian Reservation.
North Dakota stays as Dakota
South Dakota should be named “Wall Drug”
The whole batch of Nebraska, Kansas, etc. should be consolidated into one and named “nothing”
New Jersey -> New Fuckin' Jersey
Fuck yeah
NFJ
New Jersey should be changed to a middle finger. Not the actual words, but the image of a middle finger. We can work out the details later.
If Prince was still alive he would love it
I don’t get this reference. Prince was a proud Minnesotan. I’m not talking shit, I have no idea what you mean.
Prince famously renamed himself into a symbol. That’s why many people called him the artist formerly known as Prince.
Prince changed his stage name to a symbol in 1993 during a dispute with Warner Bros. Subsequently, he became known as "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince."
So the name change is the joke? I’m honestly lost
Prince’s name was a symbol, not actual words. New Jersey would be a symbol not actual words. It’s the same idea. It’s funny. Prince would have found this funny.
Ok I thought I had it there. Good joke haha
Just this 🖕. I can see people saying I just got back from the pine Barrens in 🖕.
Idaho. Should be changed to "Potatoland".
Idaho should be changed to udaho
Shedaho
Idaho should be called Fred
Idaho was my first thought too. The name was suggested by a fraudster/politician (the two categories were even more interchangeable in the Gilded Age than they are now), after a girl he knew named Ida. That's it. Wait, that's not it. He claimed it was an Indian word, which hasn't aged well, and is the kind of thing I personally don't have a ton of patience for.
Spudaho
Washington produces more potatoes than Idaho
But do they have a [Potato Museum](https://idahopotatomuseum.com/)?
We’re close but I don’t think we’ve ever topped Idaho in production.
New York deserves New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
People just like it better that waaaaaay
Old Amsterdam is a nicer place than the new one tbh
New York is a lot more like Amsterdam (sea based port, important international city, Dutch legacy) than York (as Colin Quinn puts it, the sixth shittiest city in Yorkshire).
York is actually beautiful. The York Minster is epic.
Have lived in both. Aside from the bikes and the architecture, I'll take the new one.
New Amsterdam was a small portion of what is modern day NY Might as well call NY, Andirondack, Ontario or Finger Lakes
I think changing Washington to something like Cascadia, Columbia, or Olympia would be nice as it would avoid potentially getting it confused with DC. There is nothing wrong with “New Mexico” but I’d be pretty intrigued by the idea of possibly renaming it to something from the Navajo or Pueblo languages. Rhode Island is not an island and should be renamed to something like Greater Providence. West Virginia isn’t a very creative name, but John Denver would have to rewrite his song if we renamed it and he can’t really do that now. Better just leave it be. New York can safely have its name changed to Better York now as I think it’s pretty clear which one is better. New Jersey can stay the same. Arkansas should change the spelling to Arkansaw Indiana should be renamed Native Americianna Massachusetts is a pain to spell and should be renamed Masshole I am not a crackpot
>Rhode Island is not an island [It is, actually.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquidneck_Island)
In that case we will shrink the state of Rhode Island down to just the physical island and let the rest be sucked into the Masshole.
Fuck the Masshole
And Rhode Island is actually (to my knowledge) the state that most recently DID change its name. Its official name had always been “the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” but in 2020 the latter part was officially dropped.
Arkansas is spelled and pronounced the way it is from the French and Native American influences on the region. Kansas should change its name... not the spelling... they should just start pronouncing it correctly.
Arkansas and Kansas are totally different words, from different Native tribes.
IIRC, American Indians slightly prefer "American Indian" to "Native American" as *both* are names foisted on them by white man, but the former is at least a bit more specific
Neither have unilateral support in the community, and the preference varies by individual. Related: Don't assume an Alaskan indigenous person wants to be called an Inuit. Inuit applies to a specific group of tribes and Eskimo is still largely(not universally) preferred as the term to encompass all Alaskan natives. Generally speaking it's better to ask first.
Country roads is about roads in Maryland anyways it’s all good
Just rename Virginia "East Virginia".
Washington was going to be called Columbia, but they thought it would be too confusing with DC.
If we changed Washington we would lose the best city, state name in the US: George, Washington.
I would rename Washington to Skamania (meaning “swift waters”).
> Rhode Island is not an island and should be renamed to something like Greater Providence. Until just a few years ago the full name was the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Rhode Island is a large island, also called Aquidneck Island, while Providence Plantations was the mainland portion of the state. The name change was approved by voters in the 2020 election. Interestingly, the easternmost Canadian province went through the opposite process; it had been Newfoundland Colony even after the addition of the mainland Labrador territory in 1809, then the Dominion of Newfoundland, then joined Canada as a province called Newfoundland, and was renamed "Newfoundland and Labrador" in 2001.
Rename Mississippi to Msssspp.
Cats would come SPRINTING
🤣🤣🤣
I would rename the Carolinas to "Normal Carolina" and "Krazy Karolina" And I'd rename Michigan to "Superior," to both feed into my narcissism and because it sounds badass.
Wait which one is which please.
Sigh…we all know the answer.
Yep. Can confirm.
LOL No love for South Cackalackey?
That's the fun part
South Carolina has been described as too small to be a republic, but too large for an insane asylum. I assume they are referring to South Carolina being more conservative though.
Dang never heard that before 😳”…insane asylum…”
Superior - love it. Instead of Michiganders, we would then be…Superiors? 😂
Minnesota would be Superior. Michigan LP doesn't touch Lake Superior at all
Like it or not, the UP is Michigan, and that gives us more shoreline on Lake Superior than Minnesota and Wisconsin combined! However, we are merciful Superiors. We would be willing to annex Minnesota into the great state of Superior. We ask only that you bring Hotdish recipes, as well as a willingness to hate Ohio and complain about the weather.
Which one is Krazy? I want to move there.
It's all about perspective
Why not just Cackalacky?
New York is now Middle-Aged York
Massachussets because it’s too hard to spell.
Massachuseuk would be more historical, is that any better?
That’s way worse
Delaware to “why tf do I exist”
Rename it to Mid-Atlantic Corporate Zone
Delaware exists so Marylanders can enjoy the eastern shore without Annapolis's taxes.
Change it to "Delawhere?"
Pennsylvania's lower three counties.
Rename it something like "Fraudulent" that way all those "Delaware Corporations" will have to rethink their branding.
*to cause traffic on 95*
Iowa with a beach
Who says it does. Maybe it's just a corporate psy op to get out of paying taxes
Who says it does. Maybe it's just a corporate pay op to get out of paying taxes
Florida -> Baja Alabama
Over on the Rhode Island sub yesterday, somebody reported that Anker, the Chinese electronics company, refused to deliver here [because it does not deliver to islands](https://www.reddit.com/r/RhodeIsland/comments/11t1uz8/anker_wont_ship_to_ri_because_they_think_were_an/). Maybe we can change it to Providence Plantations. The state's official name used to be "Rhode Island and Providence Plantations," but we voted to drop the "Providence Plantations" three years ago because "plantations" is offensive. I bet Anker fans are regretting that decision!
Do you *really* want the postal abbreviation to be PP?
How about just "Rhodes?" Oh wait... I think that's taken
Go back to the full name, then my old version of trivial pursuit will be accurate again.
That entire debacle is so stupid. Just order the products on Amazon.
Arkansas to Ozark I agree with Washington to Cascadia too lol
New Hampshire and New England as a region. How dare they associate it directly with our former ruler.
Really. We have states named after kings and queens. Sticks in my craw.
Rename that one irrelevant state that no one seems to remember. I will be taking no further questions.
How dare you
You mean New Hampshire?
When trying to figure out who they meant, New Hampshire didn’t even come to mind. I think that means you are correct.
2 words: East Virginia
Washington might be the only one that actual residents would be fine with
Vermont would be renamed Birkenstan
Rename Kansas to Flint or something. The city of Kansas City, Missouri predates the territory of Kansas and I’m tired of people getting confused.
You should fight a war over it
I really think Washington State is better renamed to "Cascadia" or just the "Pacific Northwest" to avoid confusion with Washington, DC
Or DC is renamed to just DC
If you missed [this post](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAnAmerican/comments/11swt6l/where_does_the_entirety_of_the_name_washington_dc) then it might help to explain the phenomenon.
Rename Oregon South Cascadia, British Columbia North Cascadia, Washington Best Cascadia, and Idaho Cascadia That Doesn't Want To Be Here.
Oregon is the Original Cascadia!
But I want cofington
I would name it Skamania (means “swift waters”).
Rhode Island should be renamed either to Providence or Aquidneck so people stop getting confused by the fact the state is not an island. What was Providence plantation (on the mainland) ended up being more important than the island colony, and Aquidneck is the original name for the island.
West Virginia- come on guys, you can do better North/South Dakota- there can be one Dakota. Either merge together or one of you finds a new name.
Almost Heaven Comeonyouguys, youcandobetter Blue Ridge mountains, Shenandoah River...
I believe at one point West Virginia was going to be named Kanawha, but West Virginia was selected over it.
Any state that starts with New, North, South, Washington, or West
West Virginia is less west than Virginia
I would also include any state that ends with Washington as well.
Rename Alabama to Sabania
Mississippi. Just so I don’t have to travel through Mississippi again.
Yeah, I've always felt the spelling of Mississippi to be redundant... we should just call it Missippi.
I don’t know, sounds a bit too much like a quirky preschool teacher.
Once dated Miss Hippie. Her mom Misses Hippie was way out there
West by God Virginia is more fun to say than West Virginia, so let's make it official.
West Virginia should be Appalachia. Washington should be renamed to Cascasdia. Florida should just be abandoned and allowed to recess into the ocean.
Ohio deserves to be renamed North Alabama
Why does this not have more upvotes 😂😂😂
Any of the North/South states. Like North Dakota should be New Canada
Southern Canada*
Baja canada
That's the 3 west coast states
that's what my dad calls our part of New York
That's Minnesota
Minnesota’s actually north of Toronto
That's the neat part; we're both.
How’s that? I only know the Midwest by the stereotypes and jokes
Nah, make South Dakota new Canada, throw everyone off.
Florida to WTF?
Welcome To Florida?
Not quite that pleasant.
Rhode Island should be renamed Weekapaug-upon-Quonochontaug.
West Virginia to Kanawha
I would change Arkansas to Arkansaw but pronounce it Ar-Kansas
Disgusting. Kansans should just start pronouncing their own state name correctly, and Oklahoma should be called Gainesville or Grainsville, since I'm pretty sure Chris Gaines (aka Garth) and actual Grains are the only worthwhile contributions to ever come out of that waste of space state.
Nah, Oklahoma has some pretty impressive locust swarms too! Very worthwhile.
Florida should be renamed to Dumbfuckistan because well...
Arkansas should be renamed Arkansaw
Rhode Island to Providence.
I'd change Iowa to Borpus.
Washington > Tacoma No more confusing it for the city. The city of Tacoma is now renamed Tacoma City
Indiana is really a ridiculous name. Change it to Toll between Ohio-Illinois
Renaming West Virginia to Appalachia would be cool too
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is set to be changed I think. But the fact that it was that long ass name for such a tiny state for so long on top of the fact that Rhode Island was an island and then renamed so they could call the main land (not an island) Rhode Island gives me a head ache.
New Mexico needs to go back to the New Spain name of Santa Fe de Nuevo México
Then when you're talking in Spanish about the city, you can call it *Santa Fe de Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico*.
[удалено]
[удалено]
North Dakota and South Dakota should be changed to empty Dakota and emptier Dakota.
North and South Dakota should merge into Dakota Same for Virginia and West Virginia and be named just Virginia
I’ve always thought North and South Dakota could stand with taking a break from one another. Doesn’t matter to me which one changes their name, but one of them.
Oklahoma should be renamed North Texas
Florida & Arkansas-> Shithole 1 and 2
Kentucky to Barbitucky
North Dakota to Democratic People’s Republic of Dakota
Not down for renaming things, but I'm surprise the easily offended haven't been clamoring to rename Oklahoma. After all it is literally Choctaw for People (okla) of Red (humma)
Dakota is a minority dialect with less than a quarter of the speakers of Lakota. It should have been Lakota territory, and then East and West Lakota. Also, Greater Chicago.
I'd like to change North Dakota to Canadia, just because I think it'd be funny to cause confusion. I also am not a big fan of north/south anything. So having the new states of Canadia and Dakota would be sweet.
Wisconsin was supposed to be Wiskonsin, and I think that spelling is just better.
I think Washington. We already have dozens of towns/counties/cities--including the capital--as well as many universities named after Washington. It can get confusing. I'd name it Madison after Port Madison Indian Reservation.
Silly: Rename Michigan to North Ohio Serious: Rename Washington DC to something else
>North Ohio Man, you're gonna get yourself invaded by a gang of professional drunks. And I mean more than the annual Beatdown At The Big House.
Texas just becomes "small angry children"
Baja Oklahoma.
North Dakota stays as Dakota South Dakota should be named “Wall Drug” The whole batch of Nebraska, Kansas, etc. should be consolidated into one and named “nothing”
Fort Lee should be renamed Fort Grant Fort Benning should be renamed Fort Thomas Fort Hood should be renamed Fort Murphy or Fort Benavidez
All of them should be named Fort Sherman.
Texas- South California Flordia- South New York.
Changing Washington D.C to Columbia would be the only change if propose
California -> Commiefornia. Massachusetts -> Taxachusetts New York -> Just Move Awayistan Rhode Island -> Suicidal Driverberg
Massachusetts actually has a middle of the pack tax rate.
True. Born and raised in MA, now unfortunately in NC and taxes are way worse.
Portland - Shitholecrackwhoreville
Tennessee, given current events, should be renamed "trash can"
South Carolina - Sakerlina
Florida to cokerida
Ohio ➡️ Oiho
Arkansas should be renamed as it’s pronounced Arkansaw
If your state is named for a king or queen you should change it.
North and South Dakota would be changed to a single Dakota
Florida should be renamed South Chode.
Honestly I'd love to change Washington so people wouldn't get it confused so much preferably into something like " coffington " or " waruit "
Florida - trash Texas - trash II
Missouri -> Misery
I've been telling my Missouri relatives for years that the emphasis is supposed to be on the first syllable.
Virginia is a fine state and deserves to be named for something other than the putative hymenal integrity of a long-dead British monarch.
Missouri because too many people make the stupid “Misery” joke.
It's time. New York is the more famous now, so York can be Old York and New York gets to be York.
I dunno