What is the Longest US State Name? See the Top 3 and Surprising Runners-Up

Did you know that until recently, the Ocean State of the U.S. held the title for the longest official name in the country? However, after voters opted to drop "and Providence Plantations" from its formal title in 2020, the leaderboard for longest U.S. state names has shifted. 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has the longest name of any US state today. With 13 letters (not counting the word Commonwealth), it narrowly beats out a few other high-count competitors. 

For a fact, understanding the state with the longest name requires looking past just the map labels and into the official statehood documents. Whether you are a trivia enthusiast or a student of American geography, these character counts reveal surprising ties and runner-ups in the national ranking.

Which is the Longest U.S. State Name?

When counting the letters in the standard names used by the U.S. Census Bureau, three states stand out for their length. While many assume North or South Carolina might take the lead, the top spot is held by a New England powerhouse.

• Massachusetts (13 Letters): Officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this state takes the gold medal.

• North Carolina and South Carolina (12 Letters): These two southern neighbors are tied for the second-longest names in the Union.

• New Hampshire and West Virginia (12 Letters): If you include the spaces, these states technically rival the Carolinas, though they are often grouped together in the 12-character tier.

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Top 10 Longest State Names by Letter Count in 2026

We made a quick-reference table so you can see the longest state names in the United States as of today, clearly. This list is mostly about the names that are used in official government letters and everyday life.

Why did the Longest State Name Change Recently?

For centuries, the technical answer to "what is the state with the longest name?" was Rhode Island. Its full legal name was The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. At 42 characters, it was the undisputed heavyweight champion.

However, according to the Rhode Island Department of State, a 2020 constitutional amendment officially removed the latter half of the name due to its historical associations with slavery. This change effectively handed the title of the longest state name back to Massachusetts.

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Interesting Facts about US State Name Lengths

The Shortest Names: While we focus on the longest state names, Iowa, Ohio, and Utah represent the shortest, with only four letters each.

1. The Commonwealth Factor

Four states, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky, are officially Commonwealths of the United States. If you include this prefix, Pennsylvania (25 characters) and Massachusetts (25 characters) remain the longest-named entities in the U.S.

2. Space Matters 

When calculating the letter count, remember that North Carolina and South Carolina include a space, which may affect character count versus letter count, depending on the software used.

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From the 13 letters of Massachusetts to the 12-letter ties of the Carolinas, the ranking of the longest US state name provides a fascinating look at American history and linguistics. While Rhode Island’s recent name change shifted the rankings, these top-tier states continue to define the map with their lengthy, historic titles.