What does Arizona mean'?

Answer 1

The meaning of "Arizona" is something that is not known for certain, though wikipedia states the following:

There is some disagreement over the proper etymology of the name "Arizona." Some scholars believe the name is simply an abbreviation of the Spanish phrase arida zona, "dry region", although the phrasing is atypical for Spanish. Others reject this derivation as capricious favoring explanations such as the Basque phrase aritz ona, "good oak," or the O'odham phrase alĭ ṣonak, "small spring". The Basque etymology is the one preferred by Arizona state historian Marshall Trimble, among other specialists. The name ArizonacArizona) to the entire territory.

It is also said that it could come from the Aztec word arizuma meaning "silver-bearing".

Answer 2

The meaning of "arizona" is something that is not known for certain, though wikipedia states the following:

There is some disagreement over the proper etymology of the name "Arizona." Some scholars believe the name is simply an abbreviation of the Spanish phrase arida zona, "dry region", although the phrasing is atypical for Spanish. Others reject this derivation as capricious favoring explanations such as the Basque phrase aritz ona, "good oak," or the O'odham phrase alĭ ṣonak, "small spring". The Basque etymology is the one preferred by Arizona state historian Marshall Trimble, among other specialists. The name ArizonacArizona) to the entire territory.

It is also said that it could come from the Aztec word arizuma meaning "silver-bearing".