Why the Gulf of Mexico’s Name Will Change
Google Maps has announced that the name “Gulf of Mexico” will be replaced with “Gulf of America” for users in the United States. This change follows an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump, instructing federal agencies to adopt the new name in official maps and communications.
The change is not immediate, but Google has confirmed it will update the name as soon as US authorities modify their official databases. The company explained that its policy is to prioritise the official names provided by governments, ensuring alignment with local sources.
The Reason Behind the Name Change
This decision stems from an executive order signed by Donald Trump during his presidency. In the decree, Trump described the Gulf of Mexico as a “flourishing economic resource” and emphasised its critical importance to the US economy. As a result, he argued that the name should better reflect its value to the country, renaming it “Gulf of America.”
However, the change has yet to receive approval from the United States Board on Geographic Names, the body responsible for standardising place names. Despite this, Florida has already adopted the new name in its maps, prompting Google and other platforms to prepare for the update.
Who Will See the Change on Google Maps?
Google has clarified that the name “Gulf of America” will only be visible to users within the United States. In Mexico, the body of water will continue to appear as the “Gulf of Mexico.” For users worldwide, both names will be displayed with labels reflecting the local designation.
According to Google, this approach is not new. The company follows a similar policy in other geopolitical disputes. For example, the Sea of Japan appears under that name in Japan but as the “East Sea” in South Korea. Likewise, the borders of Kashmir are depicted differently depending on the country accessing the map.
“When official names differ between countries, Google Maps displays the local official name. In the rest of the world, both names are shown. This principle applies to this case as well,” Google stated in an official statement.
Meanwhile, Republican Senator Dan Crenshaw has urged Apple to implement the name change in its mapping platform. In a message on X (formerly Twitter) directed at Apple CEO Tim Cook, the senator wrote: “Hi @tim_cook, I just noticed that Apple Maps still calls it the Gulf of Mexico. I submitted a report via the app but thought you’d like to know.”
Other Name Changes on Google Maps
The executive order affecting the Gulf of Mexico is not the only geographical renaming introduced. Another change involves Denali, the highest peak in North America, located in Alaska. Trump ordered that it be reverted to its previous name, “Mount McKinley,” in honour of former President William McKinley.
Denali was renamed during Barack Obama’s administration as a symbolic gesture towards Alaska’s indigenous communities, who traditionally referred to it as “Denali,” meaning “The High One” in the Koyukon Athabaskan language. However, Trump argued that restoring the name “Mount McKinley” was a way to honour the legacy of the former president, stating that McKinley “made the country very rich through tariffs and talent.”
Google has confirmed it will also implement this change, following the same policy of updating place names based on official government sources. However, the company noted that these modifications will not be immediate, as implementation depends on US authorities finalising updates in their official records.