Early Spanish sailors called the eastern mountin ranges of California, Sierra Nevada or "snowy range". As the current state of Nevada borders the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada Mountains it adopted the name and was inevitably shortened to just Nevada.

Adopted in 1929 and revised in 1991, The flag consists of a cobalt blue background. Representing the "Silver State", the upper left corner holds a silver star between two sprigs of sagebrush crossed at their base. "Nevada" is found beneath the star in gold letters. Above the silver star is a ribbon with the words"Battle Born."