The Maltese Islands owe their names to the Phoenicians. Malta was initially called M-L-T (Maleth) meaning shelter or refuge. The Greeks turned this to ‘Melitte’ and later on, the Romans further altered this to ‘Melita’ – probably in reference to the excellent Maltese honey that they called meli. Gozo was known as ‘Gul’, ‘Gawl’ or ‘Gaulos’, and the Romans turned this into ‘Goudos’. During their occupation, the Arabs knew Malta’s sister-island as ‘Għawdex’ whereas the Spaniards dubbed it ‘Godzo’ or ‘Gozzo’.

The names of the smaller islands are of a later Arab origin: Comino derived its name from the cumin seed that grows there in abundance, while Filfla – a modern-day bird sanctuary – got its name from the filfel pepper that once grew profusely on the islet. St Paul’s Islands were named after the apostle who is commonly believed to have been shipwrecked thereon.