US State Demonyms

A demonym is a word used to describe the residents or natives of a particular place. For U.S. states, these terms can be official, traditional, or colloquial, and some states have multiple accepted forms.

While most state demonyms follow predictable patterns (adding suffixes like "-an" or "-ian"), some states have unique or unexpected terms for their residents, such as "Hoosier" for Indiana or "Nutmegger" for Connecticut.

State Demonyms Directory

State Primary Demonym Alternative Terms
Alabama Alabamian Alabaman
Alaska Alaskan —
Arizona Arizonan Arizonian
Arkansas Arkansan Arkansawyer
California Californian —
Colorado Coloradan Coloradoan
Connecticut Connecticuter Nutmegger
Delaware Delawarean —
Florida Floridian —
Georgia Georgian —
Hawaii Hawaiian Hawaii resident
Idaho Idahoan —
Illinois Illinoisan Illinoian
Indiana Hoosier Indianan
Iowa Iowan —
Kansas Kansan Jayhawker
Kentucky Kentuckian —
Louisiana Louisianan Louisianian
Maine Mainer Mainiac
Maryland Marylander —
Massachusetts Bay Stater Massachusettsan
Michigan Michigander Michiganian
Minnesota Minnesotan —
Mississippi Mississippian —
Missouri Missourian —
Montana Montanan —
Nebraska Nebraskan Cornhusker
Nevada Nevadan —
New Hampshire New Hampshirite Granite Stater
New Jersey New Jerseyan New Jerseyite
New Mexico New Mexican —
New York New Yorker —
North Carolina North Carolinian Tar Heel
North Dakota North Dakotan —
Ohio Ohioan Buckeye
Oklahoma Oklahoman Sooner
Oregon Oregonian —
Pennsylvania Pennsylvanian —
Rhode Island Rhode Islander —
South Carolina South Carolinian —
South Dakota South Dakotan —
Tennessee Tennessean Volunteer
Texas Texan Lone Star
Utah Utahn —
Vermont Vermonter —
Virginia Virginian —
Washington Washingtonian —
West Virginia West Virginian —
Wisconsin Wisconsinite Cheesehead
Wyoming Wyomingite —

Interesting Demonym Facts

Unique Terms

Some states have distinctive demonyms that don't follow typical patterns, like "Hoosier" for Indiana residents.

Multiple Forms

Several states have multiple accepted forms, such as "Michigander" and "Michiganian" for Michigan residents.

Informal Nicknames

Many states have informal or humorous terms, like "Cheesehead" for Wisconsin residents.

Historical Origins

Some demonyms have fascinating historical origins, such as "Sooner" for Oklahoma residents.

Common Demonym Patterns

-an Suffix

  • Texan
  • Alaskan
  • Kansan
  • Nevadan

-ian Suffix

  • Californian
  • Virginian
  • Georgian
  • Oregonian

-er Suffix

  • New Yorker
  • Vermonter
  • Mainer
  • Marylander

Unique Forms

  • Hoosier (Indiana)
  • Nutmegger (Connecticut)
  • Bay Stater (Massachusetts)
  • Tar Heel (North Carolina)