Massachusetts, North Carolina, and South Carolina are the three U.S. states with the longest names. Each contains exactly 13 letters. However, among states with single-word names, Massachusetts stands alone as the record holder for the longest single-word U.S. state name.
This is one of the most frequently asked questions in U.S. geography trivia. Many people guess Mississippi or Massachusetts, but the full list of the longest state names holds a few surprises.
Three US States With The Longest Names
- Massachusetts (13 Letters): M-A-S-S-A-C-H-U-S-E-T-T-S = 13 continuous letters.
- North Carolina (13 Letters): N-O-R-T-H (5) + C-A-R-O-L-I-N-A (8) = 13 letters.
- South Carolina (13 Letters): S-O-U-T-H (5) + C-A-R-O-L-I-N-A (8) = 13 letters.
The Single-Word Record: Massachusetts (13 Letters)
Letter Breakdown: 13 letters (M-A-S-S-A-C-H-U-S-E-T-T-S)
The name contains four separate letter S’s and two sets of double letters, SS and TT, making its spelling particularly distinctive and challenging for many people.
Fun fact: Despite its long name, Massachusetts is one of the smallest U.S. states by land area, ranking 44th among the 50 states with a land area of just 10,565 square miles.
US States with 10 or More Letters
| State | Number of letters |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 13 |
| North Carolina | 13 |
| South Carolina | 13 |
| New Hampshire | 12 |
| Pennsylvania | 12 |
| West Virginia | 12 |
| Connecticut | 11 |
| Mississippi | 11 |
| North Dakota | 11 |
| Rhode Island | 11 |
| South Dakota | 11 |
| California | 10 |
| Washington | 10 |
Note: The District of Columbia contains 18 letters.
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