In the early 1860s, when the United States Congress was considering organizing a new territory in the Rocky Mountains, eccentric lobbyist George M. Willing suggested the name "Idaho", which he claimed was derived from a Shoshone language term meaning "the sun comes from the mountains" or "gem of the mountains".
I de tidlige 1860'ere, da USAs Kongres overvejede at danne et nyt territorium i Rocky Mountains, foreslog lobbyisten George M. Willing navnet Idaho, som han påstod stammede fra Shoshone-sproget med betydningen "solen kommer fra bjergene" eller "bjergenes ædelsten".