It's official: Google renames Gulf of Mexico 'Gulf of America' on Maps

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
Today 10:31

The Geographic Names Information System, managed by the US Geological Survey, provides the names used in Google Maps.

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A man using a mobile phone walks past Google offices, Monday, December 17, 2018, in New York. (AP)

Google has officially changed the Gulf of Mexico's name to the Gulf of America in its Maps application, following a government decision.

"People using Maps in the U.S. will see ‘Gulf of America,’ and people in Mexico will see ‘Gulf of Mexico.’ Everyone else will see both names," Google wrote in a blog post.

Google announced its intention for the change in a post on X last month, explaining that it uses the designations of the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), a database run by the US Geological Survey.

In a statement posted on X, Google confirmed it would adopt the new name in line with its policy of using official government designations. This change comes after President Donald Trump's executive order and the US Federal Board on Geographic Names' decision to alter the name on Monday.

"We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources," Google explained.

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Alongside the Gulf of America change, Google is also set to update the name of Mount Denali in Alaska to Mount McKinley, following Trump's January 20 executive order. Google said the name change will be reflected "quickly" once the names system is updated.

The updated Gulf of Mexico name will also appear differently depending on the user's location. Google clarified, "When official names vary between countries, Maps users see their official local name. Everyone in the rest of the world sees both names. That applies here too."

This approach mirrors how Google handles naming disputes, such as the Sea of Japan (East Sea), which appears as "Sea of Japan (East Sea)" in the US.

Last month, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed US President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, emphasizing that the change would only apply to the US continental shelf.

"It is important to read what the order says. It says that it will be called the Gulf of America on their continental shelf. In other words, what corresponds to the US continental shelf, they call the Gulf of America. For us, it is still the Gulf of Mexico, as it is for the rest of the world," Sheinbaum explained during a press conference.

Sheinbaum also responded with humor to the move, suggesting that Mexico might rename North America as "América Mexicana" if the US were to proceed with renaming the Gulf. "That sounds nice, no?" she added, referencing a historical document from 1814.

President Trump, shortly after being sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, signed an executive order initiating the renaming process. The document directs the secretary of the interior to take "all appropriate actions" to implement the change within 30 days. Trump had previously announced this idea before his inauguration, framing it as part of his administration's broader policy goals.

While the Gulf renaming will apply only to US federal maps, the decision has sparked international discussion about the implications for geographical naming conventions and regional diplomacy.