On what date was the name “United States of America” formally approved by Congress in 1776?

Congress formally approved the name “United States of America” on September 9, 1776.

The phrase had already appeared in the Declaration of Independence, which Congress adopted on July 4. However, the Continental Congress did not formally resolve to use “United States of America” as the nation's official name until September 9. The wording replaced references to the “United Colonies” in congressional documents.

The distinction illustrates how independence developed through several separate decisions rather than one single moment. Congress passed the Lee Resolution on July 2, adopted the Declaration on July 4, and later standardized the national name. The Articles of Confederation, approved in 1777, also used “United States of America” in their formal title.

The name is sometimes mistakenly treated as having been officially established on July 4. That date remains central to the national anniversary, but September 9 is the specific date associated with Congress's formal naming resolution.