Origin of etymology of countries

Netherlands

from Nederland meaning low land. Because the Netherlands are very low.

The plural Netherlands originates from the time (1588-1795) when the Netherlands were a confederacy of 7 states. (Republiek der zeven verenigde Nederlanden - Republic of the seven united Netherlands). The Dutch word for the Netherlands (Nederland) isn't a plural.

Holland

Etymology unsure. Probably meaning low land as well, or woodland (the county of Holland started in an area with many forests).

The Nordic lands, and dependancies.

Sweden

In old English this was Sweoland or Sweorici, which simply mean "Land of the Swedes", "Realm of the Swedes" (Sv�ar in Old Norse), and via the 17th century Swedeland evolved into Sweden. The Swedish term Sverige has the same origin, from Old Norse Sv�ar�ki.

Norway

From Old English Norweg, the "Northern Way". Whether the Norwegian names Norge (bokm�l) and Noreg (nynorsk) derives from Old Norse Nor�vegr or Nor�ki (northern realm) is disputed. 

Finland

The old Scandinavian name of the Suomi, as the Finns call themselves, was finnr, which mean nomad, wandering man. Finland was the land of the Finns, the South-western coast of the modern Republic of Finland (the province that now is called Egentliga Finland=Proper Finland). Much later, in the 17th century, "Finland" came to apply all the eastern half of the Swedish realm (earlier called �sterland, Eastland).

Denmark 

Old English Denamaerc, meaning Borderland of the Danes - originally the area that no is Slesvig.

Iceland

The first - rather egocentric - name of the island was given by the Swede Gardar Svavarsson: Gardarsholm, meaning "Gardar's isle". The Faeroese Naddod later named the island Sn�land,"Snowland", but eventually a name that stuck was created by the Norwegian Floke Vilgerdsson - �sland, of which Iceland is a literal translation. 

The Faeroes

From Old Norse F�reyar, meaning Sheep Islands.

Greenland

The name given by Erik the Red. The Inuits' name of the island is Kalaallit Nunaat - Man's Land. 

�land Islands

Another autonomous region, but unfortunately the etymology is unknown.

India from the Greek inability to pronounce the name of the river Sindhu.  They called it Indus, from which we got India.  Hindu also comes from the word Indus.

Iran

The word 'Iran' derives from the Avestan Airyana, Sanskrit Arya-yan or the 'Land of the Aryans' that becomes Irya-an or Iran.

Russia

The origin of the word Rus' seems to have Nordic origins and means 'boatsmen' or 'army', although Slavic or even Turkic origins have also been suggested (there are, for instance, several rivers/places in central Ukraine that seem to be derivatives).

Rossiya, the current name, is taken IIRC from the Byzantine name for the Rus' state. This was acquired at the end of the 15th C, when there was a sense of inheritance of Byzantine culture and responsibilities, since by then the Russian states (by that time already dominated/heavily influenced by Muscovy) were the last independent Orthodox states. (Thus the Moscow as 'Third Rome' idea, etc).

Belorus (or Belorussia) is litteraly 'White Russia'. Ukraine is, I've been told although I can't confirm, is 'Little Russia'.

Russia, is just the English name for Rossiya.

Well, iv been told that word Ukraine means or meant in the past "border lands" or "border country" altough im not sure. But im sure it doesnt come from "Little Russia".