My Best Nickname

James is the No. 1 name for Governors of Arkansas, but the list of Arkansas governors yields the name Xenophon, which was not unheard of as a given name in the 19th century. However, the name Ozra is a most uncommon appellation for an American boy, being more commonly an Iranian name for a girl. […]

California was admitted to the United States in 1850. As of 2012, it has been governed by 39 men. One of them, Earl Warren, became Chief Justice of the United States. Two first became well known as actors: Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Reagan went on to become a 2-term President of the United States.

Colorado joined the United States in 1850. Since then, it has been governed by 6 men named John, the most common name for Colorado governors. William comes in second, with 4 governors, not counting Bill Ritter since his first name is really August.

66 men and 2 women have governed the State of Connecticut. At 7 governors, John is the most common name. With 5 governors each, Charles and William tie for second most common name. So that puts Henry in third place with 4 governors.

Delaware is known as the First State because it was the first colony to ratify the United States Constitution. As of 2014, it has been governed by 71 men and one woman. The first five were actually called Presidents.

At six, William is the most common name for governors of Florida. John is a close second with four, including Jeb Bush. Spessard Holland was given his mother’s maiden name for a first name while another future governor was named after President Fillmore, ironic because Millard Fillmore got his first name the same way as Spessard.

George is the most common name found among governors of the Peach State. Nine were named George at birth, although one always went by his nickname “Sonny”. When a name is in quotes, it is the nickname or middle name that the governor preferred to go by. The least common names on the list are […]

Hawaii became a State in 1959. All of the individuals who have governed Hawaii were born in the  20th century, the oldest born in 1909 and second oldest in 1919. John is the only name that more than one governor had. Click on the names of the people who have governed Hawaii to learn the […]

There have been 30 governors of Idaho since the state’s admission to the Union in 1890. The most common name among them is Charles.  Frank, James and John tie for second place with 3 governors each. Two of the governors named James had the same middle name. The most uncommon name is Barzilla, which is […]

The most common name among Illinois Governors is far and away John with a total of 8.

The Hoosier State was admitted to the Union in December 1816. The most common name among its governors is James with 6 governors bearing the name. Thomas comes in second with half as many. The most unique names are Ashbel and Ratcliff.

Here is a list of governors of Iowa since the state’s admission to the Union in 1846. The most common name among them is William. The most uncommon names begin with B — Bourke and Buren.