List of provincial name etymologies of the Philippines

The provinces of the Philippines are mainly named after geographic features like rivers and islands, after abundant flora and fauna, after ethnic groups or individuals, or bear a name of older local origin.

Some provinces are prefixed/suffixed with a Spanish word denoting one of the four cardinal directions.

These are: Abra Agusan (del Norte and del Sur) Aklan Albay Antique Apayao Aurora Basilan Bataan Batanes Batangas Benguet Biliran Bohol Bukidnon Bulacan Cagayan Camarines (Norte and Sur) Camiguin Capiz Catanduanes Cavite Cebu Cotabato (North and South) Davao (de Oro, del Norte, del Sur, Occidental, and Oriental) Dinagat Islands Guimaras Ifugao Ilocos (Norte and Sur) Iloilo Isabela Kalinga La Union Laguna Lanao (del Norte and del Sur) Leyte (and Southern Leyte) Maguindanao (del Norte and del Sur) Marinduque Masbate Mindoro (Occidental and Oriental) Misamis (Occidental and Oriental) Mountain Province Negros (Occidental and Oriental) Nueva Ecija Nueva Vizcaya Palawan Pampanga Pangasinan Quezon Quirino Rizal Romblon Samar (Eastern, Northern and Western) Sarangani (Zamboanga) Sibugay Siquijor Sorsogon Sultan Kudarat Sulu Surigao (del Norte and del Sur) Tarlac Tawi-Tawi Zambales Zamboanga (del Norte, del Sur and Sibugay)