Google Maps updated the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America: why?
11 february 2025 в 20:13
During the changes made by Donald Trump to the United States government, the Gulf of Mexico became one of the main topics in the president’s administration. Within weeks of Trump’s statement about the need to change its name, Google Maps provided an update for the public. The region is now called the Gulf of America, so why did Google change its name after 400 years?
In January, Trump told journalists from his Mar-a-Lago estate that his administration «is going to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The Gulf of America — what a beautiful name. And it’s appropriate». He then claimed that Americans «do most of the work there» and asserted that the gulf is «ours».
Below we will look at the Google Maps update for the Gulf of Mexico.
The Gulf of Mexico has been renamed the Gulf of America for Google Maps users in the United States. The technology company confirmed the update in a statement dated February 10, 2025, which read: «In the United States, the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) has officially updated 'Gulf of Mexico' to 'Gulf of America.' As we announced two weeks ago and in accordance with our long-standing practices, we have begun implementing changes to reflect this update. People using maps in the United States will see 'Gulf of America,' and people in Mexico will see 'Gulf of Mexico.' Everyone else will see both names».
Therefore, according to Google’s statement, countries other than the United States and Mexico will see this body of water on Google Maps as «Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)».
Google announced in January that it would comply with the government’s decision to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico.
«We have received several questions about names in Google Maps. Our long-standing practice is to make changes to names when they have been updated in official government sources», - the company wrote in a tweet on January 27, 2025, noting in another tweet: «Also a long-standing practice: when official names differ between countries, map users see their official local name. Everyone else in the world sees both names. This also applies here».
Alphabet Inc. is the parent company of Google. From 1998 to 2017, Google Inc. was the original name until Alphabet Inc. took over — one of the five largest technology companies.
Since 2015, Sundar Pichai has been the CEO of Google
In January, Trump told journalists from his Mar-a-Lago estate that his administration «is going to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The Gulf of America — what a beautiful name. And it’s appropriate». He then claimed that Americans «do most of the work there» and asserted that the gulf is «ours».
Below we will look at the Google Maps update for the Gulf of Mexico.
The Gulf of Mexico has been renamed the Gulf of America for Google Maps users in the United States. The technology company confirmed the update in a statement dated February 10, 2025, which read: «In the United States, the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) has officially updated 'Gulf of Mexico' to 'Gulf of America.' As we announced two weeks ago and in accordance with our long-standing practices, we have begun implementing changes to reflect this update. People using maps in the United States will see 'Gulf of America,' and people in Mexico will see 'Gulf of Mexico.' Everyone else will see both names».
Therefore, according to Google’s statement, countries other than the United States and Mexico will see this body of water on Google Maps as «Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)».
Google announced in January that it would comply with the government’s decision to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico.
«We have received several questions about names in Google Maps. Our long-standing practice is to make changes to names when they have been updated in official government sources», - the company wrote in a tweet on January 27, 2025, noting in another tweet: «Also a long-standing practice: when official names differ between countries, map users see their official local name. Everyone else in the world sees both names. This also applies here».
Alphabet Inc. is the parent company of Google. From 1998 to 2017, Google Inc. was the original name until Alphabet Inc. took over — one of the five largest technology companies.
Since 2015, Sundar Pichai has been the CEO of Google
© Smirnova Olga
