There are several theories as to how Moose Jaw, a city in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, got its name. Some say that it is derived from the local Cree name, which meant “a warm place by the river.” Others claim that the creek around which the city formed is shaped like a moose jaw. Perhaps more puzzling is why the residents chose to call themselves Moose Javians — no one is exactly sure why.

If someone introduces themselves as Albanian, they may well be from one of several different places. It is the name given to people from the Eastern European nation of Albania. It is also commonly used by residents of Albany, New York. For a rarer reference, it was historically used by some Scots, based on an old name for the region.

The Seychelles is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean that was a French colony until 1814. The country then passed through various colonial powers before gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1976. Residents — who are called Seychellois — speak a combination of English, French, and Creole. About 90% of the population lives on the main island of Mahé.

The principality of Monaco sits on the Mediterranean coast, surrounded by France and located just a few miles from the Italian border. Residents of the tiny country are called “Monegasques.” Monaco is perhaps most famous for its casinos in Monte Carlo and for being a playground for multimillionaires. Today, it is estimated that only a fifth of the population are of Monegasque descent, with French outnumbering them.

The Ivory Coast’s official name is the Cȏte d’Ivoire, a reflection of its colonial past, and locals are known as “Ivoirians.” The West African nation gained its independence from France in 1960, but French remains the official language. Ivoirian literature and music contains a strong French influence, combined with elements of the country’s more than 60 distinct ethnic groups.

Settlers in Halifax, Nova Scotia, originally called themselves Halifaxers, but in the early 1800s they adopted the term “Haligonians” instead — and still use the name today. There is a town of Halifax in northern England, and it was often assumed that the Canadians adopted the “Haligonian” demonym from there, but it likely originated in Nova Scotia.

The term “Carioca” comes from the Tupi language and means “white man’s home.” Interestingly, it is now used to describe the residents of Rio de Janeiro, regardless of their ethnic background. Rio’s population is very diverse, consisting of European, African, indigenous, and mixed-race. While there are several demonyms used for Rio de Janeiro residents, “carioca” is the most common.

Several demonyms are used for people from Mexico City, but one of the most common is “capitalino.” (The female version is “capitalina.”) The name derives from the fact that Mexico City is the nation’s capital. With an estimated population of 8.5 million in the city and over 20 million in the greater metropolitan area, Mexico City is the most heavily populated urban area in North America.

The residents of Liverpool and the surrounding area along the River Mersey commonly refer to themselves as “Scousers.” Liverpool was a major British port starting in the 17th century. While the origin of the term “scouser” is debated, the most common explanation is that it is derived from lobscouse, a type of stew commonly eaten by sailors.

You might be forgiven for thinking that “KLites” are the latest K-Pop band, but instead, it is how people from the Malaysian capital refer to themselves. (An alternative is Kuala Lumpurians.) The city’s name translates to mean “muddy estuary” in Malay. An estimated 1.9 million KLites live in the city.

Naples is a city and province in southern Italy, about 120 miles from Rome. When the city was founded around 600 CE, it was named “Neapolis,” meaning “new city.” The people and the language were both referred to as Neapolitan. Neapolitan is an Italian dialect specific to this part of the country. Neapolitan also is used for several foods thought to be linked to the area, including pizza and ice cream.

The buckeye is the state tree of Ohio. Originating from the Native American term “hetuck,” the name refers to the nuts that fall from the trees and resemble the eye of a deer. The name “buckeye” has been used to refer to residents of Ohio since the late 18th century, and it is also the name of the Ohio State University sports teams.

The population of the tiny European nation of Luxembourg are known as Luxembourgers. They speak the Luxembourgish language, part of the Germanic family of languages. Luxembourg has a large foreign-born population; after native Luxembourgers, Portuguese form the largest ethnic group in this Northern European country.

Residents of Arizona’s capital borrow from Greek terminology for their local identity, as they are known as “Phoenicians.” In addition to being the state capital, Phoenix is the fifth-largest city by population in the US. Locals have given it the nickname “Valley of the Sun” — an apt moniker given that summer temperatures usually exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

British place names have a wide variety of origins, from French to Norse and Anglo-Saxon. Many names have changed over the centuries, but local residents still retain links to these original languages. The Romans called the area that is now Manchester by a different name, Mancunium; thus, people from the city are still known as “Mancunians.”

The “Sooner” demonym for Oklahomans has its origins in the famous Land Runs of the late 19th century. As territories opened up for settlement, land races were often held, allowing people to stake their claim on a piece of land. Sometimes, people jumped the gun, setting out before the race officially started. They were nicknamed “Sooners.”

The residents of America’s smallest state don’t actually live on an island, but they do call themselves islanders. The name Rhode Island once referred to an island in Narragansett Bay but eventually was used for the entire colony. The origins of the name are disputed — some think early settlers named it for the Greek island, while others say the name is from the Dutch word for “red.”

More than just the name of a 1986 movie about basketball, a “hoosier” is the term used to describe people from Indiana. The origins of the demonym aren’t clear, but the nickname first gained popularity around 1830. One popular theory is that a local contractor named Hoosier only hired men from Indiana; another theory is that it might come from the local Native American word for corn.

The people of the Netherlands are referred to as the Dutch. Dutch is also the language spoken in the Netherlands. Dutch comes from a Germanic word meaning “of the people” and is similar to the German word “deutsch” — Germans refer to their native country as “Deutschland.”

The kiwi, a brown flightless bird with a long beak, is one of the symbols of New Zealand, the only country where it is found. It is also an affectionate nickname for the people of New Zealand. The nickname is thought to have originated among soldiers in the First World War.