Google renames the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on Maps. USA TODAY
Google has officially updated its Maps application to reflect the name change of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The change follows an executive order by President Donald Trump and an official update by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.
Google’s Statement on the Name Change
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Google explained that it follows official government updates when changing names in its services. The company stated, "We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources."
The United States Geological Survey’s Geographic Names Information System provides the official names used in Google Maps, meaning any government-approved changes are automatically adopted by the platform.
Mount Denali Also Gets Renamed
The Gulf of Mexico is not the only location affected by these recent changes. Mount Denali in Alaska will be renamed back to Mount McKinley, following an executive order issued by Trump on January 20. Google confirmed that this update will be implemented as soon as the naming system is updated.
How the Name Change Will Appear Internationally
The updated name of the Gulf will not be the same for all users worldwide. Google Maps will show different names depending on the user's location.
For U.S. users, the body of water will be labeled as the Gulf of America. In other countries, both names—Gulf of America and Gulf of Mexico—will appear together. This follows Google’s standard approach to disputed place names.
For example, the Sea of Japan, which South Korea refers to as the East Sea, appears on Google Maps as "Sea of Japan (East Sea)" in the U.S. A similar format will be used for the Gulf of Mexico in regions outside the United States.
Mixed Reactions and Historical Context
The renaming of major landmarks has always been a topic of debate. The decision to rename Mount Denali back to Mount McKinley has also stirred discussions, as it reverses a change made in 2015 under the Obama administration.
Similarly, the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico has sparked differing opinions, especially in neighboring countries and among historians. However, since Google Maps follows official government sources, the change will remain in place as long as the U.S. government maintains it.
