# New Mexico - what's the Straight Dope on its name? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 20, 2017, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-whats-the-straight-dope-on-its-name/784837 "2017-04-20T13:08:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-whats-the-straight-dope-on-its-name/784837/21 "2017-04-21T14:35:13Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > … > But now I wonder if the same people conversely believe Baja California is a part of the US state of California. I bet there’s some who would. I grew up in California. I thought exactly that. When I was 5 or so. At about age 6 I got it right and haven’t been confused since. So there’s one. Good bet there are more, some of whom are \*real \*slow learners. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-whats-the-straight-dope-on-its-name/784837/22 "2017-04-21T15:13:13Z")
Well, now we have an Attorney General who seems unaware that Hawai’i is a state. It’s funny that “New Jersey” is often elided to “Jersey” but this never happens with the other three “New” states. ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-whats-the-straight-dope-on-its-name/784837/23 "2017-04-21T15:53:31Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > You know, I’ve heard this several times, and I’ve always thought it was a bit of a joke, as I’ve never come across anyone making that error. But now, reading through the thread and seeing more stories and links to examples of it, this appears to happen far more often than I would ever have guessed. I was born and raised in NM and our family did lots of vacations when I was growing up. I actually got asked if I had a passport once when we were back east, think it was in D.C. Another time, when I was older, someone asked (seriously) if I had a green card after I told them I was from New Mexico. I was in Florida at the time. Slee ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-whats-the-straight-dope-on-its-name/784837/24 "2017-04-21T16:56:46Z")
> [@sleestak](#): > > I was born and raised in NM and our family did lots of vacations when I was growing up. I actually got asked if I had a passport once when we were back east, think it was in D.C. Another time, when I was older, someone asked (seriously) if I had a green card after I told them I was from New Mexico. I was in Florida at the time. When I showed my New Mexico driver’s license to open a bank account in New York, they asked for a “domestic ID”. (I then showed them my green card which shows my nationality as “Canadian”, which blew their mind). Mostly I don’t think it ever passes the level of “brain fart” – people see the word “Mexico” and think “foreign” immediately, but a moment’s thought leads them to the right answer. I’ve never experienced anyone _insisting_ that NM is part of Mexico or anything like that past the initial mistake. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-whats-the-straight-dope-on-its-name/784837/25 "2017-04-21T21:43:10Z")
A shipping clerk at a former employer once asked me if “New Mexico” was part of the USA. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-whats-the-straight-dope-on-its-name/784837/26 "2017-04-21T21:58:46Z")
In related “That’s not in America!” stupidity, the District of Columbia will [start](http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Big-Change-Coming-to-DC-Drivers-Licenses-419835193.html) going back to putting “Washington, D.C.” on their licenses instead of “District of Columbia”. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-whats-the-straight-dope-on-its-name/784837/27 "2017-04-21T22:37:34Z")
When I decided to flee the country after the election, I considered Canada, but settled on Santa Fe because the food is better and they seem to use US currency here. Are you all saying that I should have researched this move more carefully? I was a little surprised that the border controls seem so lax. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-whats-the-straight-dope-on-its-name/784837/28 "2017-04-21T23:09:24Z")
[QUOTE=Riemann;20153949] . . .the food is better. . . . [/QUOTE] man, i miss green chile! mc ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-whats-the-straight-dope-on-its-name/784837/29 "2017-04-22T00:34:47Z")
México has had many meanings over the centuries: Initially, the immediate environs of Mexico City-The Valley of Mexico. In the early colonial period, the Spanish called the Aztec Empire the “Kingdom of Mexico.” New Mexico was the “Kingdom of New Mexico.” In 1821, Mexico became the name of the large “empire” formed from New Spain. Also, New Mexico predates the formation of Texas as a colonial political unit by a good 90 years or so… ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-whats-the-straight-dope-on-its-name/784837/30 "2017-04-22T00:56:07Z")
and, as the locals will happily point, out they’ve been in that area for over 400 years; long before there was the USA or Mexico. mc ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-whats-the-straight-dope-on-its-name/784837/31 "2017-04-22T00:58:04Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > In related “That’s not in America!” stupidity, the District of Columbia will [start](http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Big-Change-Coming-to-DC-Drivers-Licenses-419835193.html) going back to putting “Washington, D.C.” on their licenses instead of “District of Columbia”. If someone asks where I was born I’ll say the District of Columbia just to see the quizzical looks on their face. I’m sure they’re mostly aware of what D.C. stands for but it’s rare to hear it out loud. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-whats-the-straight-dope-on-its-name/784837/32 "2017-04-22T01:04:52Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > If someone asks where I was born I’ll say the District of Columbia just to see the quizzical looks on their face. I’m sure they’re mostly aware of what D.C. stands for but it’s rare to hear it out loud. These people are idiots. What could be more American than Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-whats-the-straight-dope-on-its-name/784837/33 "2017-04-22T01:12:00Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > When I decided to flee the country after the election, I considered Canada, but settled on Santa Fe because the food is better and they seem to use US currency here. Are you all saying that I should have researched this move more carefully? I was a little surprised that the border controls seem so lax. Just you wait. After that wall gets built you’re gonna be on the other side mister! Then we’ll see about who controls your border. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-whats-the-straight-dope-on-its-name/784837/34 "2017-04-22T01:25:31Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > When I decided to flee the country after the election, I considered Canada, but settled on Santa Fe because the food is better and they seem to use US currency here. Are you all saying that I should have researched this move more carefully? I was a little surprised that the border controls seem so lax. Enjoy the 2 cents an ounce sugary drinks tax. Seriously, I’m of the opinion that a large portion of the population of the state has no desire to ever live in Santa Fe. Maybe not that odd for most states. But you really couldn’t pay me enough to live there. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-whats-the-straight-dope-on-its-name/784837/35 "2017-04-22T01:36:06Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Just you wait. After that wall gets built you’re gonna be on the other side mister! Then we’ll see about who controls your border. 🙂 If the President & Congress come up against the Sante Fe Historic Board, I can tell you than the section of the wall around here will have to be made of adobe in pueblo style, and no more than 10% higher than the average height of the walls of contributing historic buildings within a 0.5 mile radius. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2017, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-whats-the-straight-dope-on-its-name/784837/36 "2017-04-22T02:10:11Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > If someone asks where I was born I’ll say the District of Columbia just to see the quizzical looks on their face. I’m sure they’re mostly aware of what D.C. stands for but it’s rare to hear it out loud. I once made up a trivia question along those lines: What do Al Gore, Connie Chung, John Philip Sousa, Pat Buchanon, Samuel L. Jackson and Duke Ellington have in common? [spoiler]Yep, they were all born in DC. Now I can add TriPolar to that list.[/spoiler] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-whats-the-straight-dope-on-its-name/784837.md?page=1)