US State Nicknames Quiz
Sunshine State, Lone Star State, Empire State: match all 50 states to their nicknames.
Which state is the Sunshine State, and what is Texas called? Match all 50 US states to their nicknames, then check the full list with where each name comes from.
How the state nicknames quiz works
Each round mixes two kinds of question. Half show a nickname and ask which state it belongs to; the other half name a state and ask for its nickname. Four choices each time, and after every answer you see the nickname with a line on where it comes from. Easy is 10 questions, Medium 15, Hard 20 and Expert 25, drawn at random from all 50 states.
All 50 US state nicknames
This is the list the quiz uses: one nickname per state, the official one wherever a state has adopted one by law or resolution. Washington is the only state without an official nickname, so it uses the Evergreen State from its licence plates. Maine, Maryland and Michigan each have two official nicknames; the second is shown in brackets and is never offered as a wrong answer.
| State | Nickname | Official? |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yellowhammer State | Yes |
| Alaska | The Last Frontier | Yes |
| Arizona | Grand Canyon State | Yes |
| Arkansas | The Natural State | Yes |
| California | The Golden State | Yes |
| Colorado | Centennial State | Yes |
| Connecticut | Constitution State | Yes |
| Delaware | The First State | Yes |
| Florida | Sunshine State | Yes |
| Georgia | Peach State | Yes |
| Hawaii | Aloha State | Yes |
| Idaho | Gem State | Yes |
| Illinois | Prairie State | Yes |
| Indiana | Hoosier State | Yes |
| Iowa | Hawkeye State | Yes |
| Kansas | Sunflower State | Yes |
| Kentucky | Bluegrass State | Yes |
| Louisiana | Pelican State | Yes |
| Maine | Pine Tree State (also Vacationland) | Yes |
| Maryland | Old Line State (also Free State) | Yes |
| Massachusetts | The Bay State | Yes |
| Michigan | The Great Lakes State (also The Wolverine State) | Yes |
| Minnesota | Land of 10,000 Lakes | Yes |
| Mississippi | Magnolia State | Yes |
| Missouri | Show-Me State | Yes |
| Montana | Treasure State | Yes |
| Nebraska | Cornhusker State | Yes |
| Nevada | Silver State | Yes |
| New Hampshire | Granite State | Yes |
| New Jersey | Garden State | Yes |
| New Mexico | Land of Enchantment | Yes |
| New York | Empire State | Yes |
| North Carolina | Tar Heel State | Yes |
| North Dakota | Peace Garden State | Yes |
| Ohio | Buckeye State | Yes |
| Oklahoma | Sooner State | Yes |
| Oregon | Beaver State | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | Keystone State | Yes |
| Rhode Island | Ocean State | Yes |
| South Carolina | Palmetto State | Yes |
| South Dakota | The Mount Rushmore State | Yes |
| Tennessee | Volunteer State | Yes |
| Texas | Lone Star State | Yes |
| Utah | Beehive State | Yes |
| Vermont | Green Mountain State | Yes |
| Virginia | The Old Dominion | Yes |
| Washington | The Evergreen State | No, but on licence plates |
| West Virginia | Mountain State | Yes |
| Wisconsin | Badger State | Yes |
| Wyoming | Equality State | Yes |
Source: Wikipedia, List of U.S. state and territory nicknames, which marks the officially adopted nicknames and cites each state's statute or archive. Checked 30 September 2026.
Ways to remember them
- Nicknames that name a state symbol. Alabama's yellowhammer, Louisiana's pelican, Kansas's sunflower, Mississippi's magnolia, Ohio's buckeye, Oregon's beaver and Wisconsin's badger are all official state symbols too.
- Nicknames that name a landmark. The Grand Canyon (Arizona), Mount Rushmore (South Dakota), the Green Mountains (Vermont) and the International Peace Garden on the Canadian border (North Dakota).
- Nicknames from history. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, and Colorado joined the Union in 1876, a century after independence, so it is the Centennial State.
- The ones people mix up. Nevada is the Silver State and Idaho the Gem State; New Hampshire is the Granite State and Vermont the Green Mountain State.
Next, try the 50 States Matching Game with the nickname set, or the US state abbreviations quiz.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 50 state nicknames?
The full list is in the table above: one nickname per state, the official one wherever the state has adopted one, from Alabama the Yellowhammer State to Wyoming the Equality State.
Which state has no official nickname?
Washington. It is widely called the Evergreen State, which appears on its licence plates, but the name has not been officially adopted.
Which states have two official nicknames?
Maine (the Pine Tree State and Vacationland), Maryland (the Old Line State and the Free State) and Michigan (the Great Lakes State and the Wolverine State).
What is the nickname of New York?
The Empire State.
What state is the Sunshine State?
Florida.
Is the quiz free?
Yes. No signup, unlimited rounds, and your best score at each difficulty is saved in your browser.
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