In common use there are 3 “United…” country names; in UN long forms there are 5 names that begin with “United.”
If you’re here for a clean list, you’re in the right spot. The word “United” shows up in country names in two main ways: as a day-to-day short name (like the United States), or as part of the official long form used in treaties and diplomacy (like United Mexican States).
That split is where most mixups happen. A trivia quiz might want the short names people say out loud. A school worksheet might want the official names used in formal records. This page gives you both, with plain notes so you can pick the right list fast.
| Name That Starts With “United” | Status | Short Name Or Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | Current sovereign state | Often shortened to UAE; federation of seven emirates |
| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Current sovereign state | Short form: United Kingdom (UK) |
| United States of America | Current sovereign state | Short form: United States (US or USA) |
| United Republic of Tanzania | Current sovereign state | Short form: Tanzania |
| United Mexican States | Current sovereign state | Short form: Mexico |
| United Arab Republic | Former name (1958–1971) | Egypt and Syria union (1958–1961); Egypt kept the name until 1971 |
| Republic of the United States of Brazil | Former name (1889–1930) | Used in Brazil’s early republican era |
| United States of Venezuela | Former name (1864–1953) | Historical official name used by Venezuela |
| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland | Former name (1801–1922) | Pre-partition long form for the UK in that period |
How “United” Works In Country Names
“United” is a plain English signal that separate parts joined under one state. Sometimes it points to a federation of states or emirates. Sometimes it marks a union between regions. In modern usage, it also shows up in long-form legal names that you may not hear in casual speech.
A quick way to keep your lists straight is to split “what people say” from “what documents say.” Short forms are what you’ll hear on the street and see in headlines. Long forms show up in constitutions, treaties, and formal lists.
Countries That Start With United By Region And Name
Below are the current sovereign states whose official English long form begins with “United” in UN practice. If your worksheet wants the common short names only, jump to the quick list near the end.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates on the Arabian Peninsula. The capital is Abu Dhabi, and Dubai is the best-known city for many travelers.
The “United” part is literal: the emirates joined under one federal state. In class notes, you’ll often see “UAE” as shorthand, but the full country name still starts with United.
United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Northern Ireland
The United Kingdom is the short form used in most common writing. The official long form adds “of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,” which signals the state’s internal makeup.
It’s easy to confuse this with “Great Britain.” Great Britain is the island containing England, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom includes Northern Ireland too.
United States Of America
The United States of America is the long form. “United States” is the short form used constantly in speech and headlines. In formal writing, you may also see “USA.”
Since “United States” is already a common short name, this is the one that makes the topic feel obvious. It’s still worth writing it cleanly, since quizzes sometimes want “United States of America” in full.
United Republic Of Tanzania
In day-to-day use, most people say “Tanzania.” The official long form begins with United because the state formed through the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar in the 1960s.
If you’re making a study sheet, this is a classic trap: the word “United” is real, but it sits in the long form, so it can slip past memory.
United Mexican States
This is Mexico’s constitutional long form in English. Many school lists skip it and use “Mexico,” since that’s the short form used in nearly all conversation.
If a task asks for official names, Mexico belongs on the list of names that begin with United. If a task asks for the countries people commonly call “United …,” Mexico usually won’t show up.
Quick Ways To Choose The Right List
Before you write anything down, pin down what the prompt is testing. These cues usually point you the right way:
- Trivia, crosswords, casual quizzes: Most often want the short names people say. That list is usually United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates.
- School worksheets on official names: Often expect UN long forms, so Tanzania and Mexico join the set.
- Government, treaty, or formal document context: Long forms are common, since they remove ambiguity.
If you’re building a quiz list of countries that start with united, decide up front which list rules the game. It saves you from marking a correct answer wrong.
When you need a reliable long-form list, the UN list of official country names is a clean reference, since it shows long forms alongside the short forms used at the UN.
Using Short And Long Forms In Essays
In school writing, you can keep things tidy with a simple habit: write the long form once, then switch to the short form. A line like “United Republic of Tanzania (Tanzania)” sets the name, then keeps the rest of the paragraph readable.
When you’re unsure which long form is accepted, a profile reference that lists both forms can help. The CIA World Factbook lays out the fields it uses for country names in its Guide to Country Profiles, which is useful when you’re checking spelling and wording.
Abbreviations are fine when your teacher allows them. Still, write the full name at least once before you use “UK,” “USA,” or “UAE.” It shows you know what the letters stand for.
In US English, some teachers prefer “U.S.” with periods; match your class style guide, too, always.
Common Mixups That Waste Time
Most mistakes come from one of three patterns: mixing short forms with long forms, mixing country names with group names, or mixing modern states with old names.
Mixing Country Names With Group Names
“United Nations” starts with the word United, but it’s an international organization, not a country. In a quick scan, it can sneak into a list if you’re copying from memory.
Mixing Official Names With Common Names
Mexico and Tanzania trip people up because their long forms start with United, while their short forms don’t. If your prompt says “official name,” include them. If it says “country name,” many teachers still mean the short form. Read the wording twice.
Assuming Similar Names Exist
People sometimes write “United States of Micronesia.” The sovereign state is called the Federated States of Micronesia in UN practice. If you see “United States of …” in a draft list, check it against an official list before you lock it in.
Study Notes On “United” Across Maps And History
Older textbooks, history units, and map collections can include former names that begin with United. These are not answers to a “current countries” prompt, but they can be valid in history contexts.
Three that show up often are the United Arab Republic (a mid-20th-century state name tied to Egypt and Syria), the Republic of the United States of Brazil (Brazil’s early republican long form), and the United States of Venezuela (a former official name for Venezuela). If your assignment is a history worksheet, attach dates so the marker can see you mean a past name.
Spelling And Formatting Checks That Teachers Notice
Country names are picky about small words. A missing “of,” a swapped “and,” or a dropped article can turn a correct idea into a marked-wrong line.
Use “Of” And “And” Exactly Where They Belong
“United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” is long, but each connector matters. If you’re copying, copy it once from a trusted source, then reuse your clean version.
Watch Capitalization In Long Forms
In English long forms, major words are usually capitalized. In sentence text, you can still keep the country name capitalized as a proper noun. If your teacher wants all-lowercase answers, follow the class rule, but keep your master list in proper case.
Quick Reference Table For Classwork
This second table is built for speed: common prompts on the left, clean answers on the right. It’s useful when you’re checking a worksheet in the last minute before you hand it in.
| Prompt Style | What To Write | Why It Trips People Up |
|---|---|---|
| “Name 3 countries that start with United” | United States; United Kingdom; United Arab Emirates | Uses short names said in speech |
| “List official country names starting with United” | Add United Republic of Tanzania and United Mexican States | Long forms differ from common names |
| “Write the full name of the UK” | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | People stop at “United Kingdom” |
| “Write the long form for Mexico” | United Mexican States | Short form is used in most writing |
| “Is United Nations a country?” | No; it’s an international organization | Starts with the same word |
| “Tanzania’s long form” | United Republic of Tanzania | United is hidden in the long form |
| “USA full name” | United States of America | Abbreviations crowd out the full form |
| “UAE full name” | United Arab Emirates | Acronym is used a lot |
Copy-Friendly Lists You Can Paste Into Notes
Here are the lists in two clean formats. Pick the one that matches your prompt, then paste it into your notes or worksheet.
Common Short Names That Begin With United
- United States
- United Kingdom
- United Arab Emirates
Official UN Long Forms That Begin With United
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- United Republic of Tanzania
- United States of America
- United Mexican States
Last Check Before You Submit
Do a fast scan with three questions: Did the prompt ask for “countries” or “official names”? Did it limit answers to “current” states? Did it ask for “start with United,” or “contain United”?
When you see countries that start with united in a prompt, match your answer to the exact wording. That’s the whole game with this topic.
One final note: if you’re making your own worksheet, write your rule at the top. State whether you want short names or official long forms. It keeps your list clean and keeps classmates from guessing.