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Countries by Former Name

Name the countries that were formerly referred to by these names.
Countries might not have been independent when they were known by the old name
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: June 8, 2019
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First submittedJune 8, 2019
Times taken85,987
Average score65.0%
Rating4.98
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Old Name
Current Name
Siam
Thailand
Burma
Myanmar
Dutch East Indies
Indonesia
Bohemia
Czech Republic
Formosa
Taiwan
Persia
Iran
Zaire
D.R. Congo
Northern Rhodesia
Zambia
Southern Rhodesia
Zimbabwe
Ceylon
Sri Lanka
Old Name
Current Name
Abyssinia
Ethiopia
British Honduras
Belize
Dutch Guiana
Suriname
Gold Coast
Ghana
New Holland
Australia
Swaziland
Eswatini
Macedonia
North Macedonia
Nyasaland
Malawi
New Hebrides
Vanuatu
East Pakistan
Bangladesh
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62 Comments
Morelando
+18
Level 71
Jun 8, 2019
Great Quiz! Interesting idea, love it!
Quizmaster
+18
Level ∞
Jun 8, 2019
This was originally a quiz called "places that changed names". I decided to separate it into two, one for countries and one for cities.

I mention this only because the originally quiz was from 2010. Many users have created similar quizzes over the years and I don't want to be accused of stealing their idea.

HinesBrothers
+1
Level 75
Aug 6, 2019
What is the link for places that changed names?
fjakob
+2
Level 61
Sep 23, 2020
*original
Berney
+4
Level 81
Aug 6, 2019
Here's a quiz I created several years ago which includes many other examples, Old names - which modern country?.
countrieslover69
+1
Level 32
Apr 19, 2022
great quiz 10/10
communisteggplant
+24
Level 73
Jun 8, 2019
I got Bohemia, but I thought it was considered part of Czechia along with Moravia and Silesia rather than being a name for the country itself
Quizmaster
+4
Level ∞
Jun 8, 2019
Yeah
david2013
+9
Level 85
Apr 24, 2021
That's my understanding as well. Bohemia + Moravia + Czech Silesia = Czech Republic.
mf3
+28
Level 87
Jun 8, 2019
Easy when you think of the tulips, canals and windmills of Sydney
Yanni47
+8
Level 77
Jun 9, 2019
Never been to Sydney, so this was a total surprise.
chelsea97
+25
Level 79
Jun 9, 2019
Well considering we don't have tulips, canals or windmills, I think it'd be a surprise to most sydneysiders
IsleAuHaulte
+8
Level 89
Jun 14, 2019
Wooden shoes are fashionable in the Outback.
DonTheLamplighter
+27
Level 85
Dec 11, 2019
I just remember that Holland = Netherlands, and what animal doesn't the Netherlands have? Yep, elephants. And where do elephants live? You guessed it, South Africa. And South Africa starts with an "S", and what famous city starts with "S"? Sydney. And where is Sydney? Voila! Australia.
EcceHomo
+5
Level 81
Jan 13, 2021
Applied logic.
kiwiquizzer
+2
Level 68
Apr 12, 2022
I just figured that Australia probably used to be called something, and it could have been New Holland.
Ternigrasia
+7
Level 37
Apr 12, 2022
Interestingly, the two main sea-faring provinces of the Netherlands were Holland and Zeeland (old spelling - Zealand). So they named the new lands they found New Holland and New Zealand.
Sifhraven
+1
Level 71
Jun 9, 2019
Nice quiz :)
Yanni47
+16
Level 77
Jun 9, 2019
I am a little sad not to find Upper Volta on here. That's how it was still called when I started learning countries and capitals. And with its capital, Upper Volta was quite memorable indeed.
Lachieplan
+4
Level 36
Jun 9, 2019
Great quiz!

How about Tanganyika?

Sugarush55
+4
Level 67
Oct 16, 2019
Tanzania is a combination of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
PatoPotato
+1
Level 54
Jun 10, 2019
Nice quiz
Carry
+9
Level 63
Jun 18, 2019
It's funny when places are called "New ...". I imagine they either didn't like the old/regular place or they loved it so much they honored the new place by naming it almost the same.
CurtisNewton
+1
Level 49
Apr 15, 2024
Try to find the sketch by Mitchell and Webb about New South Wales. Gold!
DarbyCrash
+17
Level 78
Jul 17, 2019
Benin used to be know as Dahomey

Burkina Faso was Upper Volta

Nigeria was Sokoto

Vietnam was Dai Nam

Cambodia was Kampuchea

North/South Korea was Joseon

In case you would want to add these so you have a more complete quiz

smaryll
+3
Level 53
Aug 7, 2019
No
JonOfKent
+7
Level 57
Jan 6, 2021
Yes
kitshef
+3
Level 84
Apr 12, 2022
Also Gilbert Islands - Kirbati
Sulps
+5
Level 56
Aug 6, 2019
In the caveat: "Countries might not be been independent..." should be "might not have been"
Quizmaster
+1
Level ∞
Aug 6, 2019
Ok
HinesBrothers
+3
Level 75
Aug 6, 2019
Could we get a much harder version. I got them all hardly thinking
Charliezard
+7
Level 66
Nov 16, 2021
bruh, congrats...? Not everyone else is "perfect"
PastaStalin
+3
Level 27
Aug 23, 2019
I'm surprised *anybody* got Tuvalu...

Welp, learn something new everyday

DonTheLamplighter
+2
Level 85
Dec 11, 2019
Not sure if it was the result of my coin collecting or what, but I knew it was one of the Oceania countries, so I just started running through them. Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tuvalu..*DING!*

I don't think I've ever heard that Australia was formerly known as New Holland, though.

stusum
+1
Level 64
Apr 12, 2022
Hebrides is a chain of Scottish Islands. Scotland being part of the UK/British Empire, it's logical to deduce New Hebrides would be also be islands.
JackintheBox
+3
Level 79
Dec 28, 2020
I still refer to two of these countries by their 'old names', and sometimes three.
JonOfKent
+1
Level 57
Jan 6, 2021
This is kind of a cheat but I got Macedonia by typing in FYROM, which I think is an older name than just "Macedonia"..?
wiifly
+1
Level 59
Apr 12, 2022
Wait… did you just say that FYROM is older than Macedonia—the practically archaic name of the region? Or maybe it was a joke and I’m just oblivious
richiesyxx
+1
Level 72
Apr 12, 2022
Wait, did you just write “did you just say…” when he wrote it and you can see it? Wow, two dumb things in one sentence (see, we can all do the snippy pedant thing, although mines tongue-in-cheek - what’s yours?)
DonTheLamplighter
+2
Level 85
Apr 13, 2022
Wait, did you just type, "did you just write 'did you just say...' when he wrote it and you can see it?" when he used a keyboard, not a pen or pencil, to post his comment? Wow, three dumb things in one sentence...four, if you count my comment here.

EDIT: The BBC would like to state that this message was tongue-in-cheek, but that the author of the aforementioned message has been sacked nonetheless.

EcceHomo
+1
Level 81
Apr 7, 2021
The last 2 took me a few guesses but I got there in the end. Lovely quiz, great idea.
AverageLondoner
+1
Level 55
Oct 25, 2021
I had heard of Siam but couldnt place it and by trying to guess it I got 5 other countries in the process!
ItzIngenious
+2
Level 60
Oct 25, 2021
The guy who types Macedonia for Macedonia 🤦‍♂️
Milsh4ke
+1
Level 60
Dec 25, 2023
hi, just know you're not alone
Hdny42
+3
Level 64
Apr 12, 2022
I was having trouble remembering ‘Ceylon,’ when suddenly the voice of Del Preston (the Roadie from ‘Waynes World 2’) floated to me somewhere from the depths of my memory banks: ‘We were in Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon.’
JohnnyYeet
+2
Level 58
Apr 12, 2022
Extended version:

https://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/1277141/countries-by-former-name-hard

JesusLovesYou
+3
Level 15
Apr 12, 2022
Don't let the Devil speak through you!

Satan will do anything to make us lose our trust in God, or prevent us from trusting. He will even try to use you to discourage other people. I tell you to resist the temptation to say something mean or discouraging to someone, especially online.

Say something kind every once in a while. It will definitely brighten someone's day.

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

-Ephesians 4:29

wiifly
+4
Level 59
Apr 12, 2022
k
richiesyxx
+5
Level 72
Apr 12, 2022
Don’t be silly, Satan can’t use the internet. It’s the cloven feet thing you see, he tries to type in Jetpunk.com and he just shoves his hoof through the keyboard.

Besides he prefers playing poker with the inmates in his spare time (I.e. when he’s not disembowelling lawyers). He’s got a little club going with all the folks you might expect: Gaddafi, Stalin, Pol Pot, Mother Theresa etc.

And have you ever met an Ephesian? They’re mostly grumpy and drink too much. Don’t listen to ‘em! Even if there are 429 of them!

Hdny42
+1
Level 64
Apr 13, 2022
Winner!
rabble
+1
Level 68
May 14, 2023
Thank you for reminding people to be kind to others
stalintime
+2
Level 77
Apr 12, 2022
Yellow boxes?
rosina
+1
Level 61
Apr 12, 2022
Nice quiz. I thought you might have included Upper Volta.
Jonty84
+2
Level 47
Apr 13, 2022
I had no idea Swaziland changed its name. Im sticking with Swaziland.
BillyC4898
+2
Level 57
Apr 15, 2022
since 2018 - You can stick with it, but you will be wrong.
bentshaggyoil
+1
Level 60
Sep 7, 2022
Didn’t get New Holland
zachazach
+1
Level 40
Dec 16, 2022
Fun Fact: TAIWAN IS NOT A COUNTRY IT DOESNT EXIST
sarielise
+3
Level 68
Mar 17, 2023
This isn’t the best website to advertise ignorance.
123hello456
+1
Level 27
Dec 12, 2023
It is a country that seperated itself from China Right?
SupBroDude
+1
Level 43
Apr 5, 2024
Yes, but not UN recognized.
Otterpotter63
+1
Level 56
Jun 5, 2023
Why don't you add pleasant island (nauru)
Blue1897
+1
Level 55
Nov 10, 2023
Brazil should also be accepted for ‘New Holland’ since it was also called that under its brief Dutch rule.
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