[dghughes]

The USA calling itself America and claiming only its citizens can be called Americans, when really all people from Canada to southern Argentina are Americans. Europeans live on the continent of Europe, Africans in Africa, Asians in Asia etc.

People counter with Canada, Mexico etc. are in North America and South America so why isn't the USA the USNA?

[mikhailfranco]

The USA contains the name of the continent, which is unique in being named after a person, and he was from a different continent. There are three (other) countries named after people: Bolivia, Colombia and the Philippines. The capital of the USA is named after a US president, and so is the capital of Liberia. Venezuela is named after a city in another country. California is named after a fictional island with a name inspired by a muslim ruler!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymology_of_California

[cafard]

Because the USA incorporated 'America' into its name before anyone else did? Because the US Naval Academy has already claimed USNA? Because custom tends to outweigh pedantry?

[JoeAltmaier]

In fact, did ANYBODY else use 'America' in their name?

Really, the USA is not so much a name as a description. Its maybe the only country on two continents that fits that description. So its a really good name.

[vacri]

why isn't the USA the USNA

Even if you include the southern continent, there's no similar collection-of-states, so the USA is just as accurate as the USNA.

[pavlov]

There are actually two other large federal republics on the same continent. One is Estados Unidos Mexicanos, "United Mexican States", and the other is República Federativa do Brasil, "Federative Republic of Brazil".

[jmt7les]

Many people incorrectly refer to the entire country as just Mexico, which is actually just one state in the United States of Mexico.

[dllthomas]

Though to be fair, one of our states is not in either America.

[JoeAltmaier]

How about, because we're the only country on both continents that bothered to put "America" in their name?

[dghughes]

You also have U and S as well so you should call yourselves USA-ers.

Imagine if one country on the continent of Europe calls themselves Europeans and tells everyone else they aren't allowed to.