Спереводом. the name rhode island is derived from the dutch and means "the island". rhode island the nation's smallest state is not an island. "little rhody" is the nickname of rhode island. because more than one-third of the area of the state are the allegheny mountains. west verginia is called the "mountain state". it's also known as the 'panhandle state' because the shape of the state is like a pan with a handle on it. the palmetto grows abundantly in south especially along the coast, and is pictured on her coat of arms as a result it has given the nickname of south carolina- "the palmetto state".