Google Maps to Rename ‘Gulf of Mexico’ to ‘Gulf of America’ for US Users

Google Maps will rename the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America” for users in the United States, following the name’s official update in the US Geographic Names System. The announcement was made by Google in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday.

For US-based users, the Gulf will now appear as the “Gulf of America.” In Mexico, however, it will retain its original name, “Gulf of Mexico.” Outside these two countries, Google Maps will display both names for the body of water.

This update follows a recent executive order from President Donald Trump, who renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” and reverted North America’s highest peak, Denali, to its former name, Mount McKinley, as part of his first executive actions after taking office on January 20.

Trump Administration Name Changes

The US Interior Department officially announced the name changes last Friday, stating, “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.” These changes fulfill one of Trump’s campaign promises.

Mixed Reactions

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum joked earlier this month that the entire North American region, including the United States, could be renamed “Mexican America,” referencing a historical map that used this name for the area.

Google Maps clarified its stance, saying it applies location-based naming conventions for other regions with disputed names. For example, the body of water between Japan and South Korea is labeled “Sea of Japan (East Sea)” in neutral locations. Similarly, the waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula is marked as “Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf)” in some countries.

Google’s spokesperson referred inquiries to the company’s X post, emphasizing that the updates align with how they handle naming conventions globally.