Place names are almost never changed for the better. David Head was taken by the Despotate of Epirus, a medieval state in Albania and western Greece. But, partly because it's why I know them, I restricted this list to countries that have issued postage stamps.
1. Tanganyika
Rolls round the tongue better than Tanzania, invented for the merger with Zanzibar in 1964.
2. Abyssinia
Now Ethiopia.
3. The Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia
1860-1862; later colonised by Argentina and Chile. Revisited by David Crawford.
4. Nyasaland
Became Malawi in 1964. Remembered by David Crawford, Brian Ford and Richard Moodey.
5. Dahomey
Became Benin in 1975. From Richard Moodey and Clive Carpenter.
6. Persia
Became Iran in 1935. Paul Bexon travelled back in time.
7. The Trucial States
Took their name from the Perpetual Maritime Truce signed with the British government in 1853. Became the United Arab Emirates in 1971. Clive Carpenter.
8. Transjordan
Lost the Trans in 1948. Richard Moodey again.
9. Bejam
Now Iceland. Very droll, Keith Austin.
10. Ceylon
British version of the Portuguese Ceilão. Arabs called it Serendip. Became Sri Lanka in 1948.
Next week: Idioms from other languages (such as the Chinese phrase 'to sleep like a dead pig')
Coming soon: Longest-reigning British monarchs. Send your suggestions, and ideas for future Top 10s, to top10@independent.co.uk
