1

Hoosier

Image: Corbin Mathias

Until recently, the United States Government Publishing Office (or USGPO) still recommended Indianian as the demonym for the state of Indiana, but its residents have been calling themselves Hoosiers for nearly two centuries. While no one really knows where the term originated, it was popularized by John Finley’s poem "The Hoosier's Nest", and Indiana has long been known as "The Hoosier State".

2

Bay Stater

Image: Pascal Bernardon

The USGPO might recommend the use of Massachusettsan , but the people of Massachussets strongly disagree. State laws and regulations officially refer to its residents as Bay Staters , after a common nickname for the state. Given that Massachusetts is formally a Commonwealth, the law also uses the phrase Citizen of the Commonwealth , but it's kind of a mouthful for everyday purposes. We’ll stick with Bay Stater.

3

Accidental

Image: Jeff McLain

One of the earliest settlements in Maryland, the town of Accident is not very big, but it makes up for it with its peculiar name. Naturally, the corresponding demonym for its residents is Accidental , though some sources also claim that the citizens of Accident are to be called Accidents .

4

Granite Stater

Image: Mark König

Much like Bay Staters, the residents of New Hampshire tend to disagree with the USGPO when it comes to their demonym. The official version is New Hampshirite (for the Federal Government, at least ), but locals favor the term Granite Stater , derived from New Hampshire’s nickname, "The Granite State".

5

Truth-or-Consequencesan

Image: Lachlan Donald

When the town of Hot Springs, New Mexico, decided to change its name to Truth or Consequences for a radio show contest, they either forgot to consider their new demonym or didn’t really care. While they are technically Truth-or-Consequencesans , they refer to the town as T or C, so they say that they are Residents of T or C .

6

Phoenician

Image: iStrfry , Marcus

Weren’t the Phoenicians an ancient civilization that created the earliest form of our alphabet? Yes, but those lived in ancient Phoenicia. The Phoenicians we are talking about are the residents of Phoenix, Arizona. Some claim that Zoner and Zonan are also common nicknames, but those could be used for any Arizona resident.

7

Nutmegger

Image: julio angel berroa

Connecticut might be officially known as "The Constitution State", but it’s also called "The Nutmeg State". The origin of this nickname varies according to the sources, but most point to a common scam where Connecticut peddlers would sell wooden nutmegs as the real thing. No matter the story, many Connecticut residents favor the demonym Nutmegger over the USGPO-recommended Connecticuter .

8

Yoopers

Image: Brad Switzer

Let’s be frank, some of the less-used variants for Michigan’s demonym sound really funny: think Michiganese , Michigine , and Michigoose (as a female version for Michi_gander_). But official names aside, residents of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula commonly refer to themselves as Yoopers , a derivative of U.P. (Upper Peninsula). Rumor has it that they call those from the Lower Peninsula Trolls , because they live ‘under the bridge’, but we can’t attest to this being true.

9

Jayhawk

Image: Nils Huenerfuerst

Nowadays, Jayhawk is a common way to refer to residents from Kansas, but this term didn’t always have a positive connotation. Its original form, Jayhawker, used to refer to thieves, and was used derogatively by Confederates to talk about the anty-slavery militias from Kansas. After the Civil War, Kansans appropriated the term as a memento of their state’s contributions to the war.

10

Lanstronaut

Image: Mick Haupt

Officially, if you live in Lansing, Michigan, you are a Lansingite . However, many Lansing residents have taken to using the term Lanstronaut in recent years, despite Lansing having more to do with the car industry than with space.

1

Daiquiri

Is it possible that our favorite vacation cocktail was originally a "medicine"? Back in 1898, an American mining engineer named Jennings Cox was working in the village of Daiquiri, Cuba. He mixed local rum, lime, and sugar to keep his workers refreshed and to ward off yellow fever.

This drink migrated to the States, becoming popular during the 1940s and 1950s, and a favorite of Ernest Hemingway and President John F. Kennedy . While Hemingway famously drank daiquiris in Havana, JFK later helped make the cocktail fashionable in American political circles. Rum brands like Bacardi and Captain Morgan helped make the cocktail a summer favorite, and the original recipe started to vary among bars and vacation spots.

2

Hamburger

Did you know one famous hamburger origin story points to a small town in New York? According to the Menches family legend, brothers Frank and Charles Menches were selling pork sausage sandwiches at the 1885 Erie County Fair in Hamburg, New York, when they ran out of pork . A local butcher suggested ground beef instead. The brothers reportedly seasoned the beef with coffee, brown sugar, and other ingredients, then served it between bread with ketchup and sliced onions. The sandwich was said to be a hit, so they named it the "hamburger" after the town where the fair was held.

3

German Chocolate Cake

Don’t let the name fool you into thinking this recipe comes from overseas. This dessert was actually born in Dallas in 1957 when Mrs. George Clay sent the recipe to the local newspaper, the Dallas Morning News . The German part actually comes from Sam German, the man who developed the dark baking chocolate for Baker’s Chocolates Company back in the 1850s.

This cake quickly became a sensation at birthdays and other celebrations thanks to its coconut-pecan frosting. The confection eventually inspired similar cupcakes, brownies, and even an ice cream flavor.

4

Philly Cheesesteak

One of Philadelphia’s most famous foods started almost by accident. In 1930, Pat Olivieri was running a hot dog stand in South Philly when he decided to grill some chopped beef and place it inside an Italian roll for himself. A taxi driver nearby smelled it, asked for one too, and legend follows that the word spread quickly around the city .

Shortly after, melted cheese became part of the recipe —usually Cheez Whiz, provolone, or American cheese. Today, locals debate whether the best version is sold at Pat's King of Steaks or Geno's Steaks.

5

Hot Dog

Just like the hot dog itself has two main ingredients, its origin story also comes in two parts. Some people say the sausage came from Frankfurt, Germany, while others believe the wieners of Vienna, Austria, inspired it. Frankfurt even celebrated the sausage’s 500th anniversary in 1897 to strengthen its claim.

But how did the hot dog become an American favorite? Before the 1850s, people in New York usually ate frankfurters between two slices of bread. Around that time, Austrian baker Ignatz Frischman arrived near Coney Island, and he noticed how much the crowds loved the sandwiches. After opening his bakery, he created a long, soft roll made especially for the sausages, and street vendors quickly started using them .

6

S'mores

The first known recipe for the summertime classic appeared in a 1927 Girl Scout handbook, where campers were taught to roast marshmallows over a fire and sandwich them between graham crackers and chocolate.

Companies like Hershey's, Jet-Puffed, and Honey Maid helped turn s’mores into a must for campfire treats, and now, they can be made in ovens or microwaves with peanut butter or flavored chocolate.

7

Corn Dog

A hot dog dipped in cornmeal batter, placed on a stick, and deep-fried until golden brown. That is how a classic corn dog is made. During the late 1920s, one Minnesota family sold their version of the corn dog at the Oregon local fairs under the name "Pronto Pup" because they disliked the term "corn dog." Even so, "corn dog" became the most recognized name, especially after state fairs in Texas and the Midwest helped popularize it throughout the country.

They are staples at carnivals, baseball games, and amusement parks, and are usually adorned with mustard or ketchup . Also, newer versions use spicy sausages, cheese-filled batter, or mini bite-sized pieces for easy snacking.

8

Lobster Roll

One early story places its birth in a Connecticut restaurant during the 1920s, where warm lobster soaked in butter was served inside a toasted roll. Years later, Maine helped popularize a different version with cold lobster mixed with mayonnaise, and the debate between the two styles continues.

By the 1970s, lobster rolls had turned into a symbol of seaside vacations across the Northeast. People have them at seafood shacks, harbor towns, and summer festivals. Famous spots like Red's Eats became famous for lobster meat rolls, while others, such as Luke's Lobster, helped introduce the sandwich to the rest of the country.

9

Reuben Sandwich

The Reuben Sandwich has been part of a food debate for nearly a century. One version takes us to the 1920s, Omaha, Nebraska, where grocer Reuben Kulakofsky asked for a special sandwich during late-night poker games at a hotel . The other one says a New York deli owner was already serving something very similar around the same time.

No matter the truth, the sandwich was already appearing on menus by the 1930s with its mix of corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing on rye bread. It is a classic choice at American diners and Jewish-style delis.

10

Piña Colada

It first appeared in 1954 at the Caribe Hilton. Bartender "Monchito" Marrero, after trying different recipes, finally arrived at the rum, coconut, pineapple juice fusion we enjoy today.

Coco López and Malibu, both liquor brands, helped turn the drink into an easy, homemade one, enabling more flavors like strawberry, mango, or even banana. Also, as Caribbean vacations and cruise trips became popular during the second half of the 20th century, the piña colada started showing up at beach bars and resorts all over the country.

1

Frank Sinatra: "The Chairman of the Board"

Frank Sinatra had many nicknames (including "Ol’ Blue Eyes" and "The Voice"), but none more iconic than "The Chairman of the Board." Do you know where it comes from?

By 1960, Sinatra was tired of record executives telling him what to sing and how to sing it. So he did something unusual at the time: he founded his own label, Reprise Records, which made him not just a singer, but the man in charge. "The Chairman of the Board" was already around in the 1960s, but by the early 1970s, New York radio legend William B. Williams popularized it as a sobriquet that perfectly captured Sinatra’s power and influence in American entertainment. Ironically, despite how famous the title became, Sinatra himself reportedly hated it, according to his wife Barbara Sinatra.

2

Abraham Lincoln: "Honest Abe"

There may be many famous presidents in American history, but only one became forever linked with honesty itself: Abraham Lincoln. However, the nickname "Honest Abe" started long before he entered the White House.

The reputation began in the 1830s, when a young Lincoln worked as a store clerk in New Salem, Illinois. According to famous stories repeated for generations, he would walk miles just to return a few pennies to a customer he had accidentally overcharged. As a lawyer in the 1850s, he became known for refusing shady tactics and even encouraging clients to settle disputes instead of fighting. By the time Lincoln entered national politics, his honesty had become widely known, and even political rivals like Stephen A. Douglas openly recognized it.

3

Bruce Springsteen: "The Boss"

In the early 1970s, Bruce Springsteen was touring with the legendary E Street Band when he picked up the nickname that would stay with him forever: "The Boss." But the story behind it is better than most people think.

After playing bars and clubs, Springsteen was often the one collecting the band’s nightly pay from club owners, counting the money, and distributing it to each one of his colleagues. Before long, the band members jokingly started calling him "the boss." According to guitarist Steven Van Zandt, it began as an inside gag within the band, but the nickname fit Springsteen’s leadership style so perfectly that it soon spread far beyond the group.

4

Amelia Earhart: "Lady Lindy"

Amelia Earhart will always be remembered as the pioneering pilot who became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1932, breaking records and opening doors for women in aviation. But long before her mysterious disappearance in 1937, Americans already knew her by an iconic nickname: "Lady Lindy."

The nickname appeared in the late 1920s after the press noticed striking similarities between Earhart and famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, the first man to complete a solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic in 1927. Reporters pointed not only to their groundbreaking flights, but also to their surprisingly similar appearance: both were tall, slim, and known for their windblown hair and calm public dispositions. Since Lindbergh was famously called "Lucky Lindy," newspapers soon began calling Earhart "Lady Lindy," and it quickly became popular.

5

George Herman Ruth: "Babe"

Babe Ruth became such a giant in American sports that many people forgot his real name was George Herman Ruth Jr. Did you know that he actually got the nickname "Babe" when he was still a teenager?

In 1914, the 19-year-old rookie signed with the then-minor league team, the Baltimore Orioles. Because he was so young, team owner Jack Dunn became his legal guardian while he traveled with the club. Teammates quickly started jokingly calling Ruth "Dunn’s baby" or simply "the Babe." What started as clubhouse teasing soon spread to sportswriters and fans, and before long, "Babe Ruth" became one of the most legendary names in sports history.

6

Eleanor Roosevelt: "First Lady of the World"

Eleanor Roosevelt became First Lady in 1933, but long before that, she had already set out on the path that would lead her to become known as "The First Lady of the World."

In the late 1920s, she became increasingly active in women’s rights and social reform, and by the time her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt, entered the White House, she was already widely known. As First Lady from 1933 to 1945, she reshaped the role, holding press conferences, writing her "My Day" column, and visiting troops during WWII. After leaving the White House, she served as the first US delegate to the United Nations and helped write the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the final act to secure her name as "The First Lady of the World."

7

William Cody: "Buffalo Bill"

William F. Cody, better known as "Buffalo Bill", became one of the most legendary icons of the American Old West, long before Hollywood ever existed.

In 1867–1868, Cody was hired to supply bison meat to workers building the Union Pacific Railroad, quickly earning a reputation as a skilled hunter. Reports from the time say he killed thousands of buffalo during this period, helping feed large crews across the frontier. In 1868, he also won a popular hunting contest against another famous hunter, Billy Comstock, reportedly killing 69 buffalo to Comstock’s 46. That fame on the frontier is what earned him the nickname "Buffalo Bill", a name that would later become world-famous when he reinvented himself as a showman.

8

Franklin D. Roosevelt: "Great Sphinx"

Franklin D. Roosevelt was known by those closest to him as a naturally reserved man, a trait that became even more pronounced after he was diagnosed with polio in 1921.

According to historians and biographers, Roosevelt revealed very little about his emotions, his health, or even his political intentions. That secrecy carried into his presidency as well. As the 1940 election approached, he refused to say whether he would run for a third term or not, keeping both journalists and other politicians guessing. His silence became part of his reputation, so the press of the time nicknamed him "the Great Sphinx" as a reference to his ability to keep his thoughts and intentions well hidden.

9

Shaquille O'Neal: "The Big Aristotle"

Unlike the other figures on this list, Shaquille O’Neal has a nickname story with a twist: no one gave him the alias. He gave it to himself.

After winning his NBA MVP in 2000 while leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 67–15 season, Shaq began calling himself "The Big Aristotle." The idea, as he explained, was to reflect more than just size and strength; he also wanted to project wisdom and discipline. He not only took the Greek philosopher's name as a tribute, but also used it to reference him often. One of Aristotle’s quotes he frequently repeated was: "Excellence is not a singular act, it's a habit."

10

George Washington: "American Fabius"

George Washington (1732–1799) is best known as the "Father of His Country," for leading the Continental Army to victory in the Revolutionary War and later becoming the nation’s first president. But during the war, he also earned another interesting nickname.

Washington often avoided direct, large-scale battles, instead using patience, retreats, and strategy to wear down British forces. This approach was inspired by Roman general Quintus Fabius Maximus, who defeated stronger enemies by delaying and avoiding decisive conflict. Because of this strategy, Washington became known as the "American Fabius."