Georgia

Meanings

1. A transcontinental country in the Caucasus region of Europe and Asia, on the coast of the Black Sea, often considered to belong politically to Europe. Official name: Georgia. Capital: Tbilisi.

1. A state in the Southern United States. Capital: Atlanta. It is named for George II of Great Britain (1683–1760).
2. Ellipsis of University of Georgia.
3. Several smaller places in the United States.
4. A town in Franklin County, Vermont, named for George III of the United Kingdom (1738–1820).
5. An unincorporated community in Lawrence County, Indiana, named for the state.
6. An unincorporated community in Cherry County, Nebraska, named for George A. Frost, a local carpenter.
7. An unincorporated community in Monmouth County, New Jersey.
8. A hamlet in Towednack parish, Cornwall, England.
9. A transitional serif typeface named after the state, designed by Matthew Carter in 1993.

1. A female given name from Ancient Greek.

Etymology

A borrowing from Medieval Latin Geōrgia, itself a borrowing from Classical Persian گرج (gurj) (with influence from (sānctus) Geōrgius (“Saint George”), alluding to the saint's popularity in the country), from Middle Persian 𐭥𐭫𐭥𐭰𐭠𐭭 pl (wiruz-ān, “Iberians, Georgians”). The term's further history is unknown; it may ultimately be a derivation from Middle Persian 𐭢𐭥𐭫𐭢 (gurg, “wolf”), though that would be phonologically challenging; compare Parthian 𐭅𐭉𐭓𐭔𐭍 pl (wiruž-ān), Old Armenian վիր-ք (vir-kʻ), Old East Slavic гурзи (gurzi). Replaced earlier Georgie, from the same source via a Middle French intermediary. Early medieval sources hypothesize that the country was named after Saint George, while later European accounts connect the name with agricultural tribes called "Georgi" (from Ancient Greek γεωργός (geōrgós, “farmer”)) mentioned by classical authors (Pliny, IV.26, VI.14; Mela, De Sita Orb. i.2); neither of these etymologies is accepted today.