In a recent update, Google Maps has renamed the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America” for users in the United States, following an executive order by former President Donald Trump. This change aligns with the U.S. Geographic Names Information System’s (GNIS) official update.
For users in Mexico, the body of water retains its original name, “Gulf of Mexico.” International users now see both names displayed: “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).” Google determines which name to display based on user location data from their mobile operating system, SIM card, network settings, or desktop search settings.
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Other mapping services have responded differently to this change. Apple Maps has not yet adopted the new name and still redirects searches for “Gulf of America” to the Gulf of Mexico. Google-owned Waze displays both names when searching for the Gulf of Mexico but does not recognize searches for “Gulf of America.”
This renaming has sparked discussions about the implications of such changes and the processes behind them. Google has stated that it follows official government sources for name changes and applies regional variations according to longstanding policies.
