Name that state
January 16, 2011 3:13 PM Subscribe
I need a pseudonym for a state.
I'm doing my dissertation research at a state chapter of a national (American) organization. It's important for me to specify, in my dissertation, which national organization it is; however, to provide my research subjects a modicum of anonymity, I am avoiding disclosing what state I'm working in. (The chapter has a small enough staff that, were I to disclose the state, it would be immediately obvious who all of my subjects were.)
So I need to find a way to write about the state that disguises its specific identity without being obtrusive. I suppose I could just refer to it as "State," but that seems a little clunky to me, so I'd like to explore other options.
Basically, I'm looking for a realistic name for a "new" U.S. state. It could be a portmanteau of existing state names (although I feel like that might problematically call to the reader's mind assumptions about the states whose names are being combined), or it could be a novel name that phonetically or morphologically fits in with existing state names. Or something else I haven't thought of!
The state is in the south, if it makes any difference.
I'm doing my dissertation research at a state chapter of a national (American) organization. It's important for me to specify, in my dissertation, which national organization it is; however, to provide my research subjects a modicum of anonymity, I am avoiding disclosing what state I'm working in. (The chapter has a small enough staff that, were I to disclose the state, it would be immediately obvious who all of my subjects were.)
So I need to find a way to write about the state that disguises its specific identity without being obtrusive. I suppose I could just refer to it as "State," but that seems a little clunky to me, so I'd like to explore other options.
Basically, I'm looking for a realistic name for a "new" U.S. state. It could be a portmanteau of existing state names (although I feel like that might problematically call to the reader's mind assumptions about the states whose names are being combined), or it could be a novel name that phonetically or morphologically fits in with existing state names. Or something else I haven't thought of!
The state is in the south, if it makes any difference.
My property law professor always set his hypotheticals in West Carolina.
posted by decathecting at 3:17 PM on January 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by decathecting at 3:17 PM on January 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I have always been partial to Cascadia and Freedonia as state names.
posted by jessamyn at 3:18 PM on January 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by jessamyn at 3:18 PM on January 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Wikipedia has some fictional states that have been used in the past.
They guy that split the US into areas of equal population also came up with some new state names that you could use.
posted by SNWidget at 3:18 PM on January 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
They guy that split the US into areas of equal population also came up with some new state names that you could use.
posted by SNWidget at 3:18 PM on January 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Aripeka: sounds like a portmanteau name, but is also the name of an actual historical individual.
posted by Nomyte at 3:20 PM on January 16, 2011
posted by Nomyte at 3:20 PM on January 16, 2011
Best answer: My personal favorite Fake State Name (disclaimer: I used this in a jokey comment on the blue) is New Jefferson. Alternately, West Dakota.
posted by Tomorrowful at 3:21 PM on January 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Tomorrowful at 3:21 PM on January 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Historically, proposed states that did not come into existence have tended to be named after major figures in U.S. history (Jefferson, Lincoln, Franklin) or regional landmarks or figures of local interest with Native American names (Absaroka, Kanawha, Sequoyah). Both schemes would make sense in this case. For a Southern state, maybe pick some word from Cherokee, Chickasaw, or Creek.
posted by Monsieur Caution at 3:24 PM on January 16, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Monsieur Caution at 3:24 PM on January 16, 2011 [2 favorites]
Tupelo just sounds good to me.
posted by sciencegeek at 3:30 PM on January 16, 2011
posted by sciencegeek at 3:30 PM on January 16, 2011
Just pop "New" in front of any existing state that doesn't already start with it. New Virginia, New Massachusetts, New California, etc. New Vermont sort of works just because they're always talking about seceding anyway, and proximity to a state that starts with New also helps. Alternatively grab any large city and just make it a state. Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, etc.
posted by jwells at 3:32 PM on January 16, 2011
posted by jwells at 3:32 PM on January 16, 2011
South Calihampshire.
Wiscansas.
New Michissiouri.
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 3:34 PM on January 16, 2011
Wiscansas.
New Michissiouri.
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 3:34 PM on January 16, 2011
I always thought they should split Arizona in two and call one half Phoenicia.
posted by hermitosis at 3:35 PM on January 16, 2011
posted by hermitosis at 3:35 PM on January 16, 2011
Wabash (major US river)
Catskill or Allegheny (mountain ranges)
Huron/Erie (lakes)
posted by smalls at 3:39 PM on January 16, 2011
Catskill or Allegheny (mountain ranges)
Huron/Erie (lakes)
posted by smalls at 3:39 PM on January 16, 2011
If you want to avoid any associations in your readers' minds, you might want to avoid names that are based on existing states, or regions. If you call a state "Allegheny," for example, you may have readers envisioning West Virginia or Pennsylvania. Call it "West Carolina" and your reader may be imagining a hypothetical member of the Confederacy. This may or may not be an issue for you, but it's something to keep in mind.
posted by Tomorrowful at 3:47 PM on January 16, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Tomorrowful at 3:47 PM on January 16, 2011 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Since it's in the south, what about Dixie or +1 on Jefferson (but this time as in Jefferson Davis)?
I thought JanetLand was suggesting Pioneer as a state name at first. I actually like that. "Pioneer State Teacher's Association" or whatever sounds like a real organization.
posted by parkerjackson at 3:47 PM on January 16, 2011
I thought JanetLand was suggesting Pioneer as a state name at first. I actually like that. "Pioneer State Teacher's Association" or whatever sounds like a real organization.
posted by parkerjackson at 3:47 PM on January 16, 2011
Wysconsing
Ildianoise
New Blankerstan
Rhode Island
(just kidding, Rhode Island)
posted by A Terrible Llama at 4:06 PM on January 16, 2011
Ildianoise
New Blankerstan
Rhode Island
(just kidding, Rhode Island)
posted by A Terrible Llama at 4:06 PM on January 16, 2011
Hmm. West Pennsylvania? That one seems so plausible that for a split second I thought, "Wait, that's not a state, right?"
posted by abcde at 4:20 PM on January 16, 2011
posted by abcde at 4:20 PM on January 16, 2011
What about something that matches the English names what could have worked if things had gone a little differently. Like Virginia, Maryland and the carolinas. Is there some other female name that might work? or some other new- place, like new York and new Jersey. New Amsterdam? new lincolnshire? new Manchester? or just Manchester.
posted by anitanita at 4:23 PM on January 16, 2011
posted by anitanita at 4:23 PM on January 16, 2011
You could also go in the other direction as we've been doing so far: pop off the "New" or other prefix from a state where people don't remember what the original was. Dakota, York, Hampshire, Carolina.
Pretty sure "Mexico" wouldn't work, though.
posted by abcde at 4:27 PM on January 16, 2011
Pretty sure "Mexico" wouldn't work, though.
posted by abcde at 4:27 PM on January 16, 2011
How about "Gloriana"? It was a nickname of Queen Elizabeth I, and fits in well with Carolina, Virginia (also derived from Queen Elizabeth), and Maryland, etc.
posted by MadamM at 4:38 PM on January 16, 2011
posted by MadamM at 4:38 PM on January 16, 2011
Desperate Housewives uses EAGLE STATE on their license plates.
posted by GaelFC at 4:46 PM on January 16, 2011
posted by GaelFC at 4:46 PM on January 16, 2011
Another group of fictional state names is from A Thirty-Eight State USA, which proposed dividing the country up such that cultural and economic areas would each center on a large capital city (and putting the lines outside, when possible, metro areas). Most of those are clearly identifiable regions such as, indeed, Allegheny.
You could do the opposite of abcde's suggestion and add "New" to another European name, such as New Dublin or New Manchester. You could name one after a British monarch or explorer not represented, e.g. Drake, or Jacobia, or Cromwell. You could assume a later US state named, say, Lincoln (New Jefferson? Why not just Jefferson? There was almost a Franklin!). You could un-translate an Indian place name. You could use a generic geographic feature, e.g. Riverine or Lakeland. You could use a tree or wildlife name (but people often associate those with streets).
posted by dhartung at 4:49 PM on January 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
You could do the opposite of abcde's suggestion and add "New" to another European name, such as New Dublin or New Manchester. You could name one after a British monarch or explorer not represented, e.g. Drake, or Jacobia, or Cromwell. You could assume a later US state named, say, Lincoln (New Jefferson? Why not just Jefferson? There was almost a Franklin!). You could un-translate an Indian place name. You could use a generic geographic feature, e.g. Riverine or Lakeland. You could use a tree or wildlife name (but people often associate those with streets).
posted by dhartung at 4:49 PM on January 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Southshireden
Southshire
Southshireland
These have the advantage of sounding vaguely like states, but not like any particular state, including any northern state, which would have subconscious cultural associations and perhaps suggest a particular southern state.
They are very bland and generic, which disinvites guessing. They are vaguely English, but that's OK since most southern state names are more English than they are, say, native American.
If you don't want to emphasize the southernness of the state, then maybe something like:
Glenstate
Amden State
Amlandshire
posted by amtho at 4:59 PM on January 16, 2011
Southshire
Southshireland
These have the advantage of sounding vaguely like states, but not like any particular state, including any northern state, which would have subconscious cultural associations and perhaps suggest a particular southern state.
They are very bland and generic, which disinvites guessing. They are vaguely English, but that's OK since most southern state names are more English than they are, say, native American.
If you don't want to emphasize the southernness of the state, then maybe something like:
Glenstate
Amden State
Amlandshire
posted by amtho at 4:59 PM on January 16, 2011
More info on Jessamyn's suggestion, Cascadia, here.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 5:19 PM on January 16, 2011
posted by Confess, Fletch at 5:19 PM on January 16, 2011
Since the state is in the south, Dixie might indeed be a good candidate, although this might also narrow it down too much, and specifically avoiding that region might work better.
You could also consider choosing a U.S. territory. This gives some sense of it being related to the U.S., while also being obviously not the actual state in question.
posted by aniola at 5:35 PM on January 16, 2011
You could also consider choosing a U.S. territory. This gives some sense of it being related to the U.S., while also being obviously not the actual state in question.
posted by aniola at 5:35 PM on January 16, 2011
How about Southern State?
Avoid Jefferson, as the "State of Jefferson" is a semi-active statehood movement in northern California and southern Oregon (the things you learn when you move out west!).
posted by bluedaisy at 5:55 PM on January 16, 2011
Avoid Jefferson, as the "State of Jefferson" is a semi-active statehood movement in northern California and southern Oregon (the things you learn when you move out west!).
posted by bluedaisy at 5:55 PM on January 16, 2011
A lot of states are named after Native American tribes or geographic words, might try something like that. Also French words. Vermillion is a river in IL (and IN, I think).
Americana might be a good one.
Mayonnaise. (Pronounced, of course, May-o-noy.)
Springfield? Steppe?
Neuvatierra? Delafleuve? Delamont?
This and this provides a wealth of state sounding names.
posted by gjc at 5:58 PM on January 16, 2011
Americana might be a good one.
Mayonnaise. (Pronounced, of course, May-o-noy.)
Springfield? Steppe?
Neuvatierra? Delafleuve? Delamont?
This and this provides a wealth of state sounding names.
posted by gjc at 5:58 PM on January 16, 2011
South Gritsmore
posted by zephyr_words at 6:18 PM on January 16, 2011
posted by zephyr_words at 6:18 PM on January 16, 2011
I'd be worried that many of these fine suggestions would be very distracting in the context of a dissertation. I'd go with the boring State or SouthState or something like that.
On the other hand, if you did go with West Carolina or North Jamesland or something, if your dissertation advisor didn't like it is should be relatively easy to do a global search and replace.
posted by leahwrenn at 6:39 PM on January 16, 2011
On the other hand, if you did go with West Carolina or North Jamesland or something, if your dissertation advisor didn't like it is should be relatively easy to do a global search and replace.
posted by leahwrenn at 6:39 PM on January 16, 2011
I always thought they should split Arizona in two and call one half Phoenicia.
posted by hermitosis
The running joke is that we'll call our half of the state "Baja Arizona."
posted by azpenguin at 6:46 PM on January 16, 2011
posted by hermitosis
The running joke is that we'll call our half of the state "Baja Arizona."
posted by azpenguin at 6:46 PM on January 16, 2011
Fredonia. Or Miss Ravenel's Conversion from Succession to Loyalty, they invented a nice New England State called Barataria (cribbed from Cervantes, I think).
posted by LucretiusJones at 8:10 PM on January 16, 2011
posted by LucretiusJones at 8:10 PM on January 16, 2011
The lost State of Franklin actually functioned as a republic for about four years. It applied for statehood and fell only two votes short of acceptance into the union. As long as your state is neither Tennessee nor North Carolina, it might work.
posted by Anitanola at 8:10 PM on January 16, 2011
posted by Anitanola at 8:10 PM on January 16, 2011
The movie Ghost Dog replaced the license plates which would normally say "The Garden State" for New Jersey with "The Industrial State". Every state has a nickname like "Empire State", "America's Dairyland", etc. Make a play on that by coming up with a new one for a fictional state. If you are in the midwest, how about the "Corn State"?
posted by JJ86 at 7:07 AM on January 17, 2011
posted by JJ86 at 7:07 AM on January 17, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks for the answers, all! Current frontrunners include Jefferson (I like the Jefferson Davis connection!), Columbiana, and Cascadia. These all seem generically Americana-y and believably Southern without being too clearly linked to a specific region. Though I like many of the portmanteaus suggested, I think they'd bring in too many associations with the state names being combined.
posted by enlarged to show texture at 8:26 AM on January 24, 2011
posted by enlarged to show texture at 8:26 AM on January 24, 2011
Response by poster: Oh, and thanks for the additional information about the real-life uses of some of these names. I'm not too concerned about extant statehood movements with these names, since I'm not expecting my readers to be tremendously familiar with such movements and they don't seem to overlap with my actual field site.
posted by enlarged to show texture at 8:28 AM on January 24, 2011
posted by enlarged to show texture at 8:28 AM on January 24, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by JanetLand at 3:17 PM on January 16, 2011