# OK vexillologists, out there! Name your favorite flags and your most disliked flags **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 6, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562 "2010-05-06T21:51:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/101 "2010-05-12T04:48:45Z")
I like Ohio’s because of its unorthodox shape, patriotic colors and subtle imagery (“O” for Ohio, 17 stars because it was the 17th state to join the Union): [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Flag\_of\_Ohio.svg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Flag_of_Ohio.svg) I’ve always had a soft spot for the Arizona flag, too, [File:Flag of Arizona.svg - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Arizona.svg), even though it’s a bit garish, and the Quebec flag, [File:Flag of Quebec.svg - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Quebec.svg), which boasts impeccable heraldry and a pleasing color combination. Dunno why, since I admit it breaks some of the rules, but the Los Angeles city flag always looked cool to me: [File:Flag of Los Angeles, California.svg - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Los_Angeles,_California.svg) The John Paul Jones or Serapis flag, an interesting early variant on the American flag: [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Serapis\_Flag.svg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Serapis_Flag.svg). Likewise the Easton flag, which is like some cool alternate-universe American flag: [File:Flag of Easton, Pennsylvania.svg - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Easton,_Pennsylvania.svg) The Ft. Sumter flag, a “bookend” to the Civil War, a good-looking flag with a great story behind it: [Fort Sumter Flag - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Sumter_Flag) ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2010, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/102 "2010-05-13T03:08:26Z")
[http://blondechris.com/pics/Japanada.png](http://blondechris.com/pics/Japanada.png) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/103 "2010-05-13T14:46:59Z")
I’ll add the White Ensign of the Royal Navy: [White Ensign - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_ensign). The British Royal Standard: [Royal Standard of the United Kingdom - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Standard_(United_Kingdom)). The U.S. Presidential flag: [Flag of the president of the United States - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_President_of_the_United_States). The flag of the Green Mountain Boys: [Flag of the Green Mountain Boys - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_Green_Mountain_Boys). The circular-star-patterned variant Civil War flag of the U.S.: [http://proudrebel.com/images/flag\_us34.jpg](http://proudrebel.com/images/flag_us34.jpg) And the provincial flag of Leinster, Ireland: [Leinster - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leinster) ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/104 "2010-05-13T16:09:51Z")
I like the [Arizona](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Arizona.svg) flag. If the colors were a little duller it would make a good hipster t-shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/105 "2015-10-19T21:34:50Z")
I am fond of Iraq’s 1959-1963 flag, the background tricolor with the sun in the middle is fantastic, and looks far better than the current Iraqi flag in use. The topic of changing Iraq’s flag comes up from time to time but is in the back burner for now. [https://www.google.com/search?q=iraq+flag+1959-1963&biw=1920&bih=931&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CC8QsARqFQoTCM3pm5m7z8gCFcZcPgodBhwJqQ#imgrc=\_](https://www.google.com/search?q=iraq+flag+1959-1963&biw=1920&bih=931&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CC8QsARqFQoTCM3pm5m7z8gCFcZcPgodBhwJqQ#imgrc=_) I also love the flag of Russia’s Yaroslavl, with the bear holding an axe > **[Russian Fraternal Twin Flags: pt 17](http://zebratigerfish.blogspot.com/2010/12/russian-fraternal-twin-flags-pt-17.html)** > > Kalmykia & Yaroslavl Flag of Yaroslavl The Russian Province of Yaroslavl and the Russian Republic of Kalmykia are united by a yellow backg... Yemen should totally adopt this sword flag, it will totally upstage Saudi Arabia’s very cool flag. Flag of Kingdom of North Yemen(1918-1962). [https://www.google.com/search?q=iraq+flag+1959-1963&biw=1920&bih=931&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CC8QsARqFQoTCM3pm5m7z8gCFcZcPgodBhwJqQ#tbm=isch&q=flag+of+kingdom+of+north+yemen(1918-1962)](https://www.google.com/search?q=iraq+flag+1959-1963&biw=1920&bih=931&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CC8QsARqFQoTCM3pm5m7z8gCFcZcPgodBhwJqQ#tbm=isch&q=flag+of+kingdom+of+north+yemen(1918-1962)) Of national flags in use: Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Lebanon South Korea Uruguay Belarus Kenya Malawi South Africa Mauritania Algeria I am not fond of tricolors, but I think Estonia and Armenia’s flags turn out quite well and are a unique combination. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/106 "2015-10-20T07:11:18Z")
Flag joke: A tourist (American, presumably) is a visitor to Canada and would like to take a Canadian flag home as a souvenir, but…is it available in blue? ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/107 "2015-10-20T10:37:43Z")
What about the Scandinavian off-centre crosses, particularly Finland’s and Denmark’s - extreme left and right of this picture: [http://www.welcome-to-my-copenhagen.com/images/denmark\_flag\_nordic\_flags.jpg](http://www.welcome-to-my-copenhagen.com/images/denmark_flag_nordic_flags.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/108 "2015-10-20T11:33:56Z")
Are we allowed to mention in this thread hideous abominations against everything that is good and holy? Because, if so, I would like to nominate the county flags of Liberia. There are 15 of them, and each and every one is a monster of almost Lovecraftian proportions. BEHOLD… Also, abandon all hope all ye who enter here, and be ready to make an appointment with your eye doctor ASAP. Wanna see them all together in one place? [Click here and weep.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Liberia#County_flags) Wanna see them one by one in all their high-res glory? Here you have the 15 separate links. [(1) Flag of Bomi County](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bomi_County#/media/File:Flag_of_Bomi_County.svg) [(2) Flag of Bong County](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bong_County#/media/File:Flag_of_Bong_County.svg) [(3) Flag of Gbarpolu County](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gbarpolu_County#/media/File:Flag_of_Gbarpolu_County.svg) [(4) Flag of Grand Bassa County](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Liberia#/media/File:Flag_of_Grand_Bassa_County.svg) [(5) Flag of Grand Cape Mount County](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Liberia#/media/File:Flag_of_Grand_Cape_Mount_County.svg) [(6) Flag of Grand Gedeh County](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Liberia#/media/File:Flag_of_Grand_Gedeh_County.svg) [(7) Flag of Grand Kru County](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Liberia#/media/File:Flag_of_Grand_Kru_County.svg) [(8) Flag of Lofa County](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Liberia#/media/File:Flag_of_Lofa_County.svg) [(9) Flag of Margibi County](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Liberia#/media/File:Flag_of_Margibi_County.svg) [(10) Flag of Maryland County](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Liberia#/media/File:Flag_of_Maryland_County.svg) [(11) Flag of Montserrado County](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Liberia#/media/File:Flag_of_Montserrado_County.svg) [(12) Flag of Nimba County](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Liberia#/media/File:Flag_of_Nimba_County.svg) [(13) Flag of Rivercess County](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Liberia#/media/File:Flag_of_Rivercess_County.svg) [(14) Flag of River Gee County](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Liberia#/media/File:Flag_of_River_Gee_County.svg) [(15) Flag of Sinoe County](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Liberia#/media/File:Flag_of_Sinoe_County.svg) I can only say one thing to this: What. The. Hell. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/109 "2015-10-21T06:45:33Z")
Yes, those are appalling, but they could all be improved markedly with the removal of the Liberian flag in the canton. Well, some of them are rather hopeless, true, but most are salvageable. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/110 "2015-10-22T00:21:00Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > What about the Scandinavian off-centre crosses, particularly Finland’s and Denmark’s - extreme left and right of this picture: > > [http://www.welcome-to-my-copenhagen.com/images/denmark\_flag\_nordic\_flags.jpg](http://www.welcome-to-my-copenhagen.com/images/denmark_flag_nordic_flags.jpg) Nice flags, but not “great” or interesting. Among the better ones in Europe, which is not saying a lot considering most the national flags are boring. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/111 "2015-10-22T04:37:45Z")
Oh hey, I’m giving a speech on flag design tomorrow! > [@Nema98](#): > > I am not fond of tricolors, but I think Estonia and Armenia’s flags turn out quite well and are a unique combination. Armenia’s is a very common combination, but Estonia’s is unusual. I think only Botswana has a similar colorway. Botswana is my favorite flag of the moment. Moldova is the worst, not because it looks so bad but because they deliberately chose a flag that would be easy to confuse with others. > [@JoseB](#): > > BEHOLD… Also, abandon all hope all ye who enter here, and be ready to make an appointment with your eye doctor ASAP. Wanna see them all together in one place? [Click here and weep.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Liberia#County_flags) > . Holy shit. You’ve found the motherlode!! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/112 "2015-10-22T04:45:10Z")
> [@JoseB](#): > > Are we allowed to mention in this thread hideous abominations against everything that is good and holy? Because, if so, I would like to nominate the county flags of Liberia. There are 15 of them, and each and every one is a monster of almost Lovecraftian proportions. My god. They look they were done at “Design a Flag Day” by a kindergarten class. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/113 "2015-10-23T17:53:58Z")
I vote for the black flag of anarchy. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/114 "2015-10-23T19:06:14Z")
[City flag of Amsterdam.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Amsterdam) > [@](#): > > Flag expert Roman Mars declared it during a TED Talk in 2015 to be the most “badass” city flag in the world […] Plus, “XXX” seems appropritate. (I know, I know, those are Saint Andrew’s Crosses. ;)) I like it so much that I considered getting a tattoo of it at one point, but I chickened out. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/115 "2015-10-23T19:20:00Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > My god. They look they were done at “Design a Flag Day” by a kindergarten class. No kidding! My favorite is the one featuring a diamond with sparkle-rays coming out of it, and also has a drawing of something that is either an anthropomorphized tree or a guy holding up a gigantic green rock. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/116 "2015-10-23T21:33:50Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > [City flag of Amsterdam.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Amsterdam) > > Plus, “XXX” seems appropritate. (I know, I know, those are Saint Andrew’s Crosses. ;)) > > I like it so much that I considered getting a tattoo of it at one point, but I chickened out. The flag is based on the [Amsterdam coat of arms.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Wapen_van_Amsterdam.svg/2129px-Wapen_van_Amsterdam.svg.png) For a tattoo, you might prefer [this version](http://images.vector-images.com/clipart/xl/181/amsterdam_altcoa.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/117 "2015-10-24T03:28:43Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > …I am not fond of tricolors, but I think Estonia and Armenia’s flags turn out quite well and are a unique combination. I like the Estonia flag, too. There’s an Estonian monument that I pass on my daily commute, and I always admire the flag flying next to it - one of the better horizontal tricolors out there, I think: [Flag of Estonia - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Estonia) ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/118 "2015-10-25T02:44:56Z")
I just noticed that the Columbus Blue Jackets have the Ohio flag in their logo. It works nicely for that. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/119 "2015-10-25T09:19:52Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > Being unfamiliar with Canadian Provincial flags, I hied off to Wikipedia. it was there that I found a flag that not even an adult could draw from memory, and that could only have been created on an Etch-A-Sketch > > Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada > > [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag\_of\_Lethbridge.svg](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Lethbridge.svg) I want to thank **Nnuzio** for bringing to my attention a flag even worse (in its own way) than the flag of my state. Note to Lethbridge: you forgot to finish your flag. But I mostly want to point out that [Oregon](http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-or.html) has the worst flag of all the US states.[sup]1[/sup] It breaks almost every rule of good flag design. It has writing, including the name of the state. It has the state seal. No one could draw the flag from memory, much less a school kid. Worst of all, the reverse is totally different than the front. Dishonorable mention for state flags goes to [Missouri](http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-mo.html). This is because of star-abuse. It has the state seal and around the seal is a circle of 24 stars (Missouri being the 24th state). But then in the upper part of the seal is another set of 24 stars! Come on, how many sets of stars do you need on a flag? One is certainly enough. [sup]1[/sup] I say this as a long-time resident of Oregon. And no, I’m not proud to have the worst flag. It’s shameful and we really need to change it. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562/120 "2015-10-25T13:59:00Z")
Count me as a Maryland Flag hater. It makes me queasy just looking at it. I used to eat at a cheesy Italian restaurant festooned with medieval Italian horse racing flags. The Maryland flag would fit right in. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-vexillologists-out-there-name-your-favorite-flags-and-your-most-disliked-flags/538562.md?page=7)