Every state has a nickname. Many have more than one. Of course, these aren’t like normal nicknames. They’re often longer than the state’s name itself. And nobody really uses them that much except as a marketing gimmick. But hey. They’re here. So let’s rank them. Here they are. State nicknames, ranked. State nickname rankings (used Brittanica’s list so if there’s one on here that shouldn’t be or off here that shouldn’t be take it up with them).
50. Arkansas: Natural State
Nothing wrong with this one, but Arkansas could’ve done better. Lotta states have nature, Arkansas. Most of them, in fact.
49. Colorado: Centennial State
Did Colorado enter the union in 1876? I’m assuming so because of this. There’s just so much to work with in Colorado. Have you heard of dinosaurs?
48. Idaho: Gem State
Potatoes, Idaho. Play the hits.
47. Alaska: The Last Frontier
Sorry, Alaska. Animal Planet told me that’s the ocean.
46. Connecticut: Nutmeg State, Constitution State
Bold move claiming the United States Constitution. Also a move you make when you don’t have much to work with.
45. Maine: Pine Tree State
Not bad, but of all the things Maine has, pine trees are a thing that’s pretty common elsewhere.
44. Massachusetts: Bay State, Old Colony State
You’ve got a lot of material, ‘Chusetts. Use it.
43. Maryland: Free State, Old Line State
Is the old line the Mason-Dixon Line?
Free’s good, though!
42. Michigan: Wolverine State, Great Lake State
I’ll say it. I’ve never seen a wolverine in Michigan.
41. Delaware: First State, Diamond State
Great play highlighting that you were first, but leave it at that. Diamonds are in every state. They’re a major industry. Their stores are everywhere.
40. Nevada: Silver State, Sagebrush State, Battle Born State
All good things (especially The Killers), but let’s get a common theme here.
39. North Dakota: Flickertail State, Sioux State, Peace Garden State
Stick with Peace Garden, friends. Flickertails aren’t well-known.
38. Virginia: The Old Dominion, Mother of Presidents
This would be awesome if it was one name: “The Old Dominion, Mother of Presidents,” and Virginia made you refer to it as such. Alas.
37. South Dakota: The Mount Rushmore State
DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TWO GREAT NATIONAL PARKS, SOUTH DAKOTA?! AND MOTORCYCLES?! AND JACKRABBITS?! STOP IT! STOP THIS! WE KNOW YOU HAVE STONE PRESIDENTS AND YES THEY ARE COOL BUT THEY ARE NOT THIS COOL!
36. Tennessee: Volunteer State
I have questions. But it’s stuck. Once you get the university on board, it sticks.
35. Washington: Evergreen State, Chinook State
Evergreen? Unifying. Chinook? Is that the salmon? The wind? The piss-acorns? (Look ‘em up they’re called Chinook Olives.) I’d guess it’s the indigenous peoples, but there are more straightforward ways to honor them.
34. West Virginia: Mountain State
Should’ve gone with Mountaineer State.
33. Utah: Beehive State
Just saying, Weber State soon-to-be Beekeepers.
32. Wyoming: Equality State
Equality is good. Women’s suffrage is good. But this one hasn’t stuck. Could’ve done Teton State or Yellowstone State or Cowboy (!!) State.
31. Georgia: Peach State, Empire State of the South
The peach theme is great. But quit trying to be the southern version of things, Georgia. Be you. You’re enough. Don’t juniorize yourself.
30. Iowa: Hawkeye State, Corn State
To be fair, this does work well for the University of Iowa’s athletic department on social media. To be unfair, the University of Iowa is an annoying entity.
29. Illinois: Prairie State, Land of Lincoln
Solid. No complaints.
28. Minnesota: North Star State, Gopher State, Land of 10,000 Lakes, Land of Sky-Blue Waters
You people would spend all your time giving yourselves nicknames. I hope the Sky-Blue Waters line came from the Hamm’s commercial and not vice versa. If it did, circle back to me and I’ll bump you ahead a few notches.
27. New Hampshire: Granite State
It works.
26. Ohio: Buckeye State
I’ll say this. I do associate buckeyes with Ohio.
25. New Jersey: Garden State
I think if you approached me before I read the list and said “Garden State,” I would say, “New Jersey,” and then walk away. So, it’s working, guys.
24. Oregon: Beaver State
See, Idaho? Someone in the Northwest plays the hits.
23. Pennsylvania: Keystone State
I don’t know if Pennsylvania’s actually holding us all together, but it’s possible that’s what’s happening. If you had to pick a state that’s doing it, you could do worse than Pennsylvania.
22. Alabama: Cotton State, Yellowhammer State
I did not realize until I drove through cotton fields this summer just how pretty cotton is. As for yellowhammers, no idea what those are. But I’m on board (*crosses fingers they aren’t problematic*).
21. Arizona: Grand Canyon State
Much like South Dakota, Arizona’s centered its branding around one thing. Unlike South Dakota, that thing will blow you away if you visit it instead of making you say, “Oh, cool, there it is. Let’s go get some ice cream.”
20. Louisiana: Pelican State, Creole State, Sugar State
So many good things. Louisiana is great.
19. Kansas: Sunflower State, Jayhawker State
Solid, both of them. Assuming Jayhawker is like a Sooner in that it’s specific to one state and the rest of us can know what it is but we don’t really need to know?
18. Hawaii: Aloha State
I’d imagine this went something along the lines of the person with the gavel in Hawaii’s state legislature saying, “Alright, guys, they say we need a nickname,” and some guy in the back saying, “Well, we do say aloha twice per conversation.”
17. Indiana: Hoosier State
I’d imagine this went something along the lines of the person with the gavel in Indiana’s state legislature saying, “Alright, guys, they say we need a nickname,” and some guy in the back saying, “Well, we do call ourselves Hoosiers.”
16. Texas: Lone Star State
Iconic. Proud.
15. Montana: Treasure State, Big Sky Country
Big Sky Country is so cool. Treasure State’s fine, but Big Sky Country! Double down.
14. New Mexico: Land of Enchantment, Sunshine State
Land of Enchantment, like Big Sky Country, is awesome. Sunshine State, unfortunately, is taken. People don’t go to New Mexico for sun. They go there for enchantment. The sun can be kind of rough if it isn’t accompanied by water. The sun burns you sometimes.
13. South Carolina: Palmetto State
A classic.
12. North Carolina: Tar Heel State, Old North State
The Tar Heel thing is weirder than Sooners. It’s so specific. Works well, though, and North Carolina’s got enough pride that you can’t effectively rib ‘em for it.
11. Mississippi: Magnolia State
Beautiful.
10. Nebraska: Cornhusker State, Beef State
Look, both of these are awesome. They’re so good. Beef State? Beef?! We love beef.
9. Rhode Island: Ocean State, Little Rhody
Again, both great.
8. Vermont: Green Mountain State
This is how you do it, West Virginia. You don’t get the Mountain West all riled up. You make it local. You make it feel homey.
7. Wisconsin: Badger State, America’s Dairyland
In an age in which dairy is under attack, Wisconsin holds the flag proudly. God bless it.
6. Florida: Sunshine State
There’s a lot not to like about Florida, but they got this right.
5. Oklahoma: Sooner State
Oklahoma has successfully pushed a non-word into the national lexicon. A very plain non-word. They’ve successfully made “sooner” a thing. Not that we say it. But we say it when we talk about Oklahoma. Not that we talk about Oklahoma much, though.
4. Missouri: Show Me State
Unique. Non-non-word. I associate it with Missouri. It’s done its job. And if we’re being honest, Missouri lacks great options. Ozark State? Then you’re in a fight with Arkansas. Tiger State? There are no wild tigers in Missouri why did you suggest that.
3. Kentucky: Bluegrass State
I don’t know if this is referencing the grass or the music, but hits you in the heart either way.
2. California: Golden State
I don’t like over-ranking California, but I’m not sure I’m doing that. They did good here.
1. New York: Empire State
In a similar vein to California, New York hit it on the head. When you think about it long enough, you kind of say, “Wait a minute,” but if you think about it short enough, you think of the building. And it’s a good building.
