Who were the people who named Alta California?

The name "Alta California" was given by Spanish explorers and settlers in the late 18th century. The term "Alta" means "upper" in Spanish, distinguishing this region from "Baja California" to the south. The name was formalized during the Spanish colonial period as part of the broader effort to explore and settle the Pacific coast of North America. Notable figures in this naming process included explorers like Gaspar de Portolá and missionaries such as Junípero Serra.