Young India 99

Name

Comments

Cambodia  

The name "Cambodia" derives from that of the ancient Khmer kingdom of Kambuja (Kambujadesa; कम्बोजदेश: "land of Kambuja").

Afghanistan

Afghan is from the Sanskrit tribal name Aśvaka (अश्वक) meaning "horseman", as the country was noted for its fine breed of horses

Bhutan

The name could also be derived from either two Sanskrit words: भू-उत्थान Bhu-Utthan meaning "highlands" or भोट-अन्त Bhoṭa-anta meaning "At the end of Tibet" referring to Bhutan's location bordering the southern part of Tibet.

Nepal

It derives from the Sanskrit nipalaya, which means "at the foot of the mountains" or "abode at the foot," referring to its proximity to the Himalayas.

Singapore

Singapura (in Malay) derives from Sanskrit सिंगापोर Simhapura (or Singhapura) which means "Lion City".

china

Derived from Sanskrit Cīnāh (चीन). The Chinas or Chīnaḥ (Sanskrit चीन:) are a people mentioned in ancient Indian literature from the first millennium BC, such as the Mahabharata, Laws of Manu, as well the Puranic literature.

Argentina  

What do Arjuna and Argentina have in common? The word Arjuna also means "white," "silvery," and "gleaming,” When Spanish conquistadors traveled South America they came across the legendary "Sierra de la Plata," or the Silver Mountains. They called the place as argentina, or "that which is made of silver." The word comes from the Latin argentum, meaning "silver money,”.

Malaysia & Maldives

The word Malaya is a combination of two Tamil/Sanskrit words, மலை/मलै malay or malai (hill) and ஊர்/उर् ur (town), meaning hilltown. The name "Maldives" derives from the Sanskrit maladvipa (मालदीव), meaning "garland of islands"

Russia

One of two rivers in Ukraine, the Ros and Rusna, near Kiev and Pereyaslav, respectively, whose names are derived from a postulated Slavic term for "water", akin to rosa (dew), rusalka (water nymph), ruslo (stream bed). The relation to the Sanskrit 'rasa'—water, juice, essence—suggests itself.

Thailand

The country's official name was Siam (Thai: สยาม RTGS: Sayam, pronounced [sàˈjǎːm]) until June 23, 1939,^[13] when it was changed to Thailand. It was then renamed Siam from 1945 to May 11, 1949, after which it was again renamed Thailand. Also spelled Siem, Syâm or Syâma, it has been identified with the Sanskrit Śyâma (श्याम, meaning "dark" or "brown").