Macedonia has voted to change its name to end a feud with Greece.

The country could now be known as North Macedonia after the Greeks objected to Macedonia’s bid to join the EU and NATO unless it changed its name, because Greece also has a region called Macedonia.

It’s a subtle swap, but not the first time a country has changed its moniker.

So do you know your eSwatini from your Ceylon? Take our fun quiz to find out - the answers are at the bottom of the page!

COUNTRIES

1. To celebrate his 50th birthday, King Mswati III of which African country changed the name to eSwatini, after long complaining people outside of the continent confused it with Switzerland?

2. Amid the disintegration of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic, Czechoslovakia divided into which two different countries in 1993?

3. By what name was Sri Lanka know during British rule from 1815-1948?

4. Upper Volta was named after the Volta river which flows through the country, but what is it now known as?

5. Zimbabwe was granted independence by Britain in 1980. But what was it known as before then?

6. What was Cambodia named whilst under communist rule from 1975 to 1979?

7. Myanmar was the name given to this country by a military junta in 1989 – what was it called before then?

8. What was Botswana known as before it became independent within the Commonwealth in 1966?

9. What was Iran known us until 1935 when it was renamed by its then leader Reza Shah Pahlavi?

10. Taiwan was originally named by Portuguese sailors, with the word meaning “beautiful island”. What was it called?

11. The monarch in the musical The King and I is the king of Siam... what is Siam now known as?

12. After the controversial 1947 partition of India, East and West Pakistan were created. What is East Pakistan now known as?

13. The ancient region of Mesopotamia is now where which war-torn modern county is situated?

14. Which continent was known as New Holland when it was first discovered in the 17th century?

15. The Empire of Abyssinia made up the northern half of which modern day African country?

CITIES

16. New Amsterdam is the city that is so good they named it twice. What is it now known as?

17. The Indian city of Bombay was renamed as what in 1995 to honour the Hindu god Mumbadevi?

18. The Chinese capital Beijing was known was what until 1979, although the name of its famous duck dish hasn’t changed.

19. The Turkish capital Istanbul was known by what other name until 1930?

20. The Indonesian capital was known as Batavia until after independence in 1946. What is it now called?

21. Ho Chi Minh City is the biggest in Vietnam and is named after the deceased communist leader, but what was it previously called?

22. The Canadian city of Toronto used to be named after which historic British city?

23. Russia’s second city St Petersburg was known as what from 1924-1991 after the death of communist Vladimir Lenin?

24. Edo - also known as Jedo, Yedo or Yeddo, means estuary in the language of the country where this was the capital city... what is it called now?

25. Which Canadian city was founded as Bytown in 1826 but later called after the local river, a word meaning “to trade”?

ANCIENT BRITAIN AND EUROPE

26. Which city got its modern name from the Mancunium fort in its Castlefield district?

27. Ridiculed by Ali G, this town was originally known as Ad Pontes.

28. It’s famous for its water (and buns) but what is the west country city the Romans knew as Aquae Sulis called today?

29. Which Essex town was a named Caesaromagus after the Roman emperor possibly because it was being built as a rival to London?

30. The Vikings called in Jorvik, the Romans before that knew it as Eboracum. What do we call this city?

31. There are still impressive Roman remains in the European capital city of Lutetia which is now more famous as the city of love.

32. This famous British province built on a rock was known by the Romans as Mons Calpe, one of the Pillars of Hercules?

33. Which Portuguese port was known to the Romans as Ossanoba?

34. Luguvalium was once one of the northernmost outposts of the empire on these islands, not far from Hadrians Wall - which modern day city is situated there now?

35. If Hibernia is the Latin name given by the Romans to what is now Ireland and Northern Ireland, what is the land they called Caledonia known as now?

Which town did Ali G ridicule? (
Image:
PA)

NICKNAMES

36. Which US city is known as The Big Easy?

37. With its famous bridge and opera house adorning the bay, it is no wonder this city is known as The Harbour City.

38. This city is known as Tiger Town thanks to a famous Norwegian poet who wrote about a fight between a horse and a tiger.

39. This beautiful city gained the unfortunate nickname Auld Reekie thanks to poor drainage and smells from its loch in the 17th century.

40. There is debate to whether the Windy City gets it’s nickname from the weather or the hot air bellowing from politicians.

41. Which American won earned its Sin City nickname thanks to relaxed views on gambling, prostitution, marriage and divorce.

42. Which city gets its City of Lilies nickname from its emblem of red flowers on a white field?

43. This Fair City gets its nickname from the folk song Molly Malone.

44. Carved from rock, which Jordanian gem is known as the Red Rose City?

45. Which Indian city - which changed its name in 2001 - is known as the City of Joy?

Answers

1. Swaziland
2. Slovakia and Czech Republic.
3. Ceylon
4. Burkina Faso
5. Rhodesia
6. Kampuchea

7. Burma
8. Bechaunaland

9. Persia
10. Formosa
11. Thailand
12. Bangladesh

13. Iraq
14. Australia
15. Ethiopia

CITIES

16. New York
17. Mumbai
18. Peking
19. Constantinople

20. Jakarta

21. Saigon

22. York
23. Leningrad

24. Tokyo
25. Ottawa

ANCIENT BRITAIN AND EUROPE

26. Manchester
27. Staines
28. Bath
29. Chelmsford
30. York

31. Paris
32. Gibraltar
33. Faro
34. Carlisle
35. Scotland

NICKNAMES

36. New Orleans
37. Sydney, Australia

38. Oslo

39. Edinburgh

40. Chicago

41. Las Vegas

42. Florence

43. Dublin

44. Petra

45. Kolkata (Formerly Calcutta)