Rhode

Rhode is a toponym and surname that may refer to several places in Europe and North America, most commonly Rhode Island, a United States state, or the Greek island of Rhodes. The term appears in historical and contemporary usage as part of place names and in onomastics.

Rhode Island and Providence Plantations was the original official name of the state. Today it is commonly known simply as Rhode Island. It is the smallest U.S. state by area and one of the New England states. Its capital and largest city is Providence. The state joined the United States in 1790 as the thirteenth state. The origin of the name is uncertain; it is frequently linked to the island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean and to the Dutch name Roodt Eylandt meaning red island, reflecting the region’s red soil. In common usage, "Rhode" alone is rarely used to refer to the state.

Rhodes, known in Greek as Rodos, is a large island in the southeastern Aegean Sea, part of the Dodecanese archipelago of Greece. It has a long history dating to ancient times and played a major role in the Hellenistic and medieval periods. The island’s medieval walled town, Rhodes City, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is a historical symbol associated with the island. Today Rhodes relies on tourism, agriculture, and fishing; it features a climate typical of the Aegean and hosts numerous beaches, archaeological sites, and a well-preserved old town.

Aside from these places, Rhode may occur as a surname and in older or literary spellings of Rhodes. In modern usage, however, the term is best understood as referring to Rhode Island or Rhodes.