united states of verspuccia

[nokhor]

columbia is named after christopher columbus
bolivia is named after simon bolivar.

america is named after amerigo vespucci.

so why isn't america called vespuccia? [other than that the name sounds mighty silly to us in this timeframe.]

and are those the only 3 modern countries that were named after real historical figures?

[Michiel de Ruyter]

Nope... IIRC China as well (at least to us Westerners), after the first emperor.

[Antalis::]

The Cook Islands.
But I guess that doesn´t count because they are part of New Sealand.