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The most common explanation is that America is named for the explorer Amerigo (or Amerigho) Vespucci, who was the first European to visit the mainland following Columbus' voyages. The name first appeared on a 1507 map by the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller who applied it to the region of South America that is now Brazil.

A few historians claim that words similar in sound to "America" are found among various native languages but their connection to Waldseemüller's use is tenuous.

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Herminia Hayes

Lvl 13
3y ago

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