15 Places That Don't Mean What You Think: Explained
Discover 15 places that don't mean what you think—from Paris, Texas to Greenland—and the surprising stories behind their misleading names.
Read more
What Are People From Rhode Island Called?
North America, United States
The demonym for people from Rhode Island is:
Rhode Islander
Pronunciation:
/roʊd ˈaɪləndər/
About Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and largest city of Rhode Island, located at the head of Narragansett Bay. Rhode Island was admitted to the Union on May 29, 1790, as the 13th state, and it is the smallest U.S. state by area. The city was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, who established the colony on principles of religious freedom. Providence has a strong maritime heritage, reflected in its harbor and in the coastal towns that dot the bay. The state's economy includes health care, education, and manufacturing, with several universities, including Brown University, adding to the city's intellectual life. Visitors enjoy the historic College Hill district, the Rhode Island State House, and the riverfront WaterFire events, which together give the capital a distinctive character within New England.
Quick Facts about Rhode Island
- Population:
- 1,110,000 (2024 est.)
- Country:
- United States
- Region:
- North America
Recommended Geography Resources
Want to explore where Rhode Islanders live? Here's the atlas that does it best:
National Geographic Atlas of the World
Highly detailed, stunning visuals
▶See more options
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Etymology of the Rhode Island Demonym
Possibly from Dutch 'Roodt Eylandt' (red island) referencing red clay, or from Greek island of Rhodes.
Notable People Associated with Rhode Island
Generations of talented individuals have been associated with this vibrant place.
Actor
Viola Davis
St. Matthews, South Carolina (raised in Rhode Island)
EGOT-winning actress known for her powerful performances in 'Fences', 'The Help', and 'How to Get Away with Murder'.
Acting and EGOT status
Seth MacFarlane
Kent, Connecticut (lived in Rhode Island)
Creator of the animated sitcom 'Family Guy' and director of 'Ted', known for his voice acting and comedy.
Animation and comedy
Debra Messing
Brooklyn, New York (raised in Rhode Island)
Actress best known for her role as Grace Adler on the NBC sitcom 'Will & Grace'.
Television acting
Politics
Roger Williams
London, England (founded Rhode Island)
Puritan minister and theologian who founded the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
Founding Rhode Island
Artist
Gilbert Stuart
Saunderstown, Rhode Island
American painter from Rhode Island who is widely considered one of America's foremost portraitists.
Portrait painting
Author
Cormac McCarthy
Providence, Rhode Island
Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist known for 'The Road', 'No Country for Old Men', and 'Blood Meridian'.
Literature
Entertainer
Pauly D
Providence, Rhode Island
Television personality and DJ who rose to fame as a cast member on MTV's 'Jersey Shore'.
Reality television and DJing
Musician
Nelson Eddy
Providence, Rhode Island
Singer and actor who appeared in 19 musical films during the 1930s and 1940s.
Opera and film music
Places near Rhode Island
Other places in the region and their demonyms
Top Things to Do in Rhode Island
Quick Facts
- Population:
- 1,110,000 (2024 est.)
- Country:
- United States
- Region:
- North America
Latest Articles
20 Place Names That Were Literally Translated, Explained
From Montenegro to Naples, these 20 place names that were literally translated show how languages rebuild geography — and what the originals mean.
Read more
Recommended Geography Resources
Want to explore where Rhode Islanders live? Here's the atlas that does it best:
National Geographic Atlas of the World
Highly detailed, stunning visuals
▶See more options
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Test Your Knowledge
Challenge yourself with our demonym quizzes and see how many you can get right!
Take a Quiz →Learn More
Actions
Test Your Knowledge
Challenge yourself with our demonym quizzes and see how many you can get right!
Take a Quiz →More demonyms from North America
Discover demonyms from other places in this region
Alabama
Alaska
Albany
Annapolis
Arizona
Arkansas
Atlanta
Augusta
Austin
Baltimore
Baton Rouge
Bismarck
Boise
Boston
Calgary
California
Canada
Carson City
Charleston
Cheyenne
Chicago
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Colorado
Columbia
Columbus
Concord
Dallas
Delaware
Denver
Des Moines
Detroit
Dover
Edmonton
Florida
Frankfort
Georgia
Guadalajara
Halifax
Harrisburg
Hartford
Hawaii
Helena
Honolulu
Houston
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Indianapolis
Iowa
Jackson
Jefferson City
Juneau
Kansas
Kansas City
Kentucky
Lansing
Las Vegas
Lincoln
Little Rock
Los Angeles
Louisiana
Madison
Maine
Maryland
Mexico
Mexico City
Miami
Michigan
Minneapolis
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Monterrey
Montgomery
Montpelier
Montreal
Nashville
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New Orleans
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City
Olympia
Oregon
Ottawa
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
Phoenix
Pierre
Pittsburgh
Portland
Providence
Quebec City
Raleigh
Richmond
Sacramento
Saint Paul
Salem
Salt Lake City
San Antonio
San Diego
San Francisco
San Jose
Santa Fe
Seattle
South Carolina
South Dakota
Springfield
St. Louis
Tallahassee
Tampa
Tennessee
Texas
Topeka
Toronto
Trenton
Utah
Vancouver
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Winnipeg
Wisconsin
Wyoming