List of alternative country names
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Most countries of the world have alternative names. Some countries have also undergone name changes for political or other reasons. This article attempts to give all known alternative names and initialisms for all nations, countries and sovereign states, in English and any predominant or official languages of the country in question.
Countries are listed alphabetically by a description, that is, the most common name or term that is politically neutral and unambiguous. This may followed by a note as to the status of the description used.
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C
| Description | Other name(s) or older name(s) |
|---|---|
| People's Republic of China (official, English) | China/中国 (common, ambiguous), 中华人民共和国 (official, Chinese), Communist China/中共 (colloquial), Red China (colloquial, mainly derogatory), PRC (initialism), Mainland China/中国大陆(內地)/ (colloquial, no longer accurate), New China/新中国 (colloquial, pro-Communist), Ch'in Empire, Cathay |
| Republic of China (official, English) | Taiwan/臺灣 (common, slightly inaccurate), 中華民國 (official, Chinese), Chinese Taipei/中華台北 (international designation), Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu/台灣、澎湖、金門及馬祖個別關稅領域 (international designation), Taipei, China (international designation), Taiwan, Province of China (UN designation), Nationalist China (obsolete), Free China (obsolete, pro-Nationalist), ROC (initialism) |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo (official, English) | Zaire (former name; still occasionally used to distinguish it from Republic of the Congo) |
F
| Description | Other name(s) or older name(s) |
|---|---|
| French Republic (official, English) | France (common, English and French), République Française (official, French) |
G
| Description | Other name(s) or older name(s) |
|---|---|
| Federal Republic of Germany (official, English) | Germany (common, English), Deutschland (common, German), Bundesrepublik Deutschland (official, German; formerly also meant West Germany), BRD (German initialism) |
I
| Description | Other name(s) or older name(s) |
|---|---|
| Greece (official English description) | Hellas (official and common name), Ελλάδα ("Hellada" common name in Greek), Ελλάς ("Hellas" official description in Greek), Hellenic Republic (official name of greek state) |
R
| Description | Other name(s) or older name(s) |
|---|---|
| Russia | Russian Federation (official English description), Российская Федерация (official Russian), Russia (official and common name, ambiguous, English), Россия (common, Russian), RF (initialism), Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (former name), RSFSR (former name initialism), Rus (poetic or obsolete name, ambiguous), Roos (Hindi name), Great Russia (obsolete name) |
S
| Description | Other name(s) or older name(s) |
|---|---|
| Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (official, English) | Saudi Arabia (common, English), KSA (initialism), Saudia (former, still in use in Arabic) |
| Serbia and Montenegro | Srbija i Crna Gora (common, Serbian), Drzavna Zajednica - Srbija i Crna Gora (official, Serbian), State Union - Serbia and Montenegro (official, English), SCG (initialism, local), S&M (initialism), S&MN (initialism), Yugoslavia (former name, still in use) |
| Swiss Confederation (official, English) | Switzerland (common, English), Suisse (common, French), Confédération suisse (official, French), Schweiz (common, German), Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (official, German), Svizzera (common, Italian), Confederazione Svizzera (official, Italian), Svizra (common, Romansh), Confederaziun Svizra (official, Romansh), Confoederatio Helvetica, Helvetia (Latin, sometimes used officially), CH (initialism) |
U
| Description | Other name(s) or older name(s) |
|---|---|
| United States (shortened form) | United States of America (official), America or the States (colloquial), U.S. (initialism), USA (initialism)) |
| United Kingdom (shortened form) | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (official, English), Teyrnas Unedig Prydain Fawr a Gogledd Iwerddon (official, Welsh), An Rìoghachd Aonaichte na Breatainn Mhòr agus Eirinn a Tuath (official, Scottish Gaelic), Ríocht Aontaithe na Breataine Móire agus Thuaisceart Éireann (official, Irish Gaelic), An Rywvaneth Unys a Vreten Veur hag Iwerdhon Glédh (official, Cornish), Unitit Kinrick o Great Breetain an Northren Ireland (Scots), Britain (colloquial), Great Britain (incorrect, colloquial), England (incorrect, colloquial), UK (initialism) United Kingdom (short form) |