How did the antilles get their name?

The Antilles got their name from the Spanish term "Antillas," which was used by early Spanish explorers in the 15th century. The term is believed to derive from "Antillia," a mythical island mentioned in medieval maps and literature. The name was later applied to the islands in the Caribbean, which were collectively referred to as the Greater Antilles and Lesser Antilles based on their size and geographic location.