Google Maps has bowed to U.S. political pressure and will change the name of a major body of water. As a result, U.S. advisors will soon be pointing out the Gulf of America to clients rather than the Gulf of Mexico. In Canada, Google will display both names.
The decision comes in response to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump shortly after taking office, which mandates the renaming of the Gulf as part of an effort to "honor American greatness."
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Google explained that it follows a "longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources."
We’ve received a few questions about naming within Google Maps. We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.
— News from Google (@NewsFromGoogle) January 27, 2025
The name modification will be implemented once the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), the U.S. government’s official database of place names, is updated to reflect the change.
Google also clarified that these changes will be visible only to users in the U.S.
"When official names vary between countries, Maps users see their official local name," the company stated. "Everyone in the rest of the world sees both names. That applies here too."
The move has already sparked significant debate, with critics arguing that the changes erase historical and cultural significance, while supporters claim they reinforce national pride.
And according to Politico, these early skirmishes are nothing compared to what's to come.
The prediction is that over the next four years, the U.S. will go through a "smashmouth fight," state by state, over the renaming of landmarks and public utilities.
