Etymology
Main article: Names of Singapore
The English name of Singapore is derived from the Malay word, Singapura (Singa is "lion", Pura "city"; Sanskrit: सिंहपुर), hence the lion is embraced in many of the nation's symbols (i.e. its coat of arms, Merlion emblem) and the customary reference to the nation as the Lion City. However, it is unlikely that lions ever lived on the island; Sang Nila Utama, who founded and named the island Singapura, most likely saw a Malayan tiger.[14]
Since the 1970s, Singapore has also been widely known as the Garden City, owing to its extensive greening policy covering the whole island, a priority of its first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, dubbed the nation's "Chief Gardener". The nickname, Red Dot, is a reference to its size on the map, contrasting with its achievements. In 2015, Singapore's Golden Jubilee year, the celebratory "SG50" branding is depicted inside a red dot