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Google Maps to rename 'Gulf of Mexico' to 'Gulf of America' for US users

WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Google Maps will change the name of "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America" once it is officially updated in the U.S. Geographic Names System, Google said in an X post on Monday.
Google Maps to rename 'Gulf of Mexico' to 'Gulf of America' for US users The exterior of the new headquarters of Google is seen at 550 Washington Street in Hudson Square on January 09, 2024 in New York City. Designed by COOKFOX Architects, the 1.3-million-square-foot project involved the restoration and expansion of the St. John’s Terminal building along the Hudson River waterfront. (Photo: Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images)

The change will be visible in the U.S., but the name will remain "Gulf of Mexico" in Mexico. Outside of the two countries, users will see both names on Google Maps.

The Trump administration's Interior Department said on Friday it had officially changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and the Alaskan peak Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, to Mount McKinley.

Google Maps, which is owned by Alphabet's GOOGL.O Google, will make a similar change with Mount McKinley.

President Donald Trump ordered the name changes as part of a flurry of executive actions hours after taking office on Jan. 20, making good on a campaign promise.

"As directed by the President, the Gulf of Mexico will now officially be known as the Gulf of America and North America's highest peak will once again bear the name Mount McKinley," the Interior Department said in a statement last week.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum earlier this month jokingly suggested North America, including the United States, be renamed "Mexican America" - a historic name used on an early map of the region.

Reached for comment, a Google spokesperson referred Reuters to the company's X post.

Google has applied the same locale-based labeling conventions to other locations subject to naming disputes.

Outside of Japan and South Korea, the body of water bordering both nations is listed as the "Sea of Japan (East Sea)."

In 2012, Iran threatened to take legal action against Google over its decision to drop the term "Persian Gulf" from its Google Maps and leaving the waterway between Iran and the Arabian peninsula nameless. The body of water is now labeled "Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf)" in other countries.

(Reporting by David Shepardson and Kenrick Cai; Editing by Leslie Adler)

Comments (3)

Jos Verschoor Jan 28, 2025, 06:40 AM

How pathetic, and a lame move from Google Maps. I think this could have repercussions.

Gavin Hillyard Jan 28, 2025, 09:37 AM

I have heard that Americans have a poor knowledge of world geography. Ignorant in the main and insular it seems.

Indeed Jhb Jan 28, 2025, 09:49 AM

What a joke - they don't more ambitious or important things to do?

Penny Philip Jan 28, 2025, 11:15 AM

So Google gets to rename the world according to what the US Govt wants, with no regard to any of the other countries bordering on the Gulf of MEXICO?? Unbelievably egotistical & crass!