The name Latvija is derived from the name of the ancient Latgalians, one of four Indo-European Baltic tribes (along with Couronians, Selonians and Semigallians), which formed the ethnic core of modern Latvians together with the Finnic Livonians.
Numele de Latvija provine de la numele latgalilor antici, unul dintre cele patru triburi baltice indo-europene (alături de curoni, seloni și semigali), care au format nucleul etnic al letonilor moderni împreună cu livonii finici.