Saint Lucia: The Only Country Named After a Woman

• Saint Lucia is the only country named after a woman.
• The island was originally called Louanalao by the Arawak people.
• St. Lucy of Syracuse is the patron saint honored by Saint Lucia.
• December 13 is celebrated as the National Day of Saint Lucia.
• Queen Victoria’s name appears in numerous locations globally.
• American locations named after women are few and far between.

Saint Lucia: A Unique Name and History

Saint Lucia holds a unique place in the world as the sole country named after a woman, specifically St. Lucy of Syracuse. This Caribbean island nation’s name honors St. Lucy, a figure who is revered as the patron saint of the blind and is believed to have died in the fourth century CE. The heritage of Saint Lucia’s name can be traced back to as early as 200 CE, when the Indigenous Arawak people called the island Louanalao, meaning ‘Island of the Iguanas’.

St. Lucia’s Name Evolution and Significance

The world knows Saint Lucia by the name given by shipwrecked French sailors in 1502, when they referred to the island as “Sainte Alousie”. Legend suggests that these sailors arrived on December 13, which is recognized as St. Lucy’s feast day, and this connection is why December 13 is celebrated as the National Day of Saint Lucia. As time progressed, colonization by both the Spanish and English influenced its name further, with the Spanish initial name being “Sancta Lucia”, eventually evolving into what it is today.

Representation of Women in Place Naming

While Saint Lucia stands out for being a country named after a woman, significant female figures are often underrepresented in geographical naming. For instance, Queen Victoria’s name resonates across numerous locations worldwide, including the capital of British Columbia and the famed Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. In the United States, however, the mention of locations honoring women is sparse; places like Barton County, Kansas, named after Clara Barton, and Dare County, North Carolina, which celebrates Virginia Dare, are among the few examples.

In summary, Saint Lucia is a remarkable testament to the influence of a woman, St. Lucy, in naming a nation. The island’s history reveals layers of colonial influences and reverence for women. Meanwhile, the rarity of female namesakes in geographical terms highlights a broader cultural narrative about the representation of women in history and place naming practices.