In a significant move, Apple has officially renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on its maps, following an order from former President Donald Trump. This change was made after the U.S. Geographic Names Information System updated the official listing, marking a notable shift in geographical naming conventions in the United States.
This renaming comes shortly after Google announced it would implement the change on its platform. As part of this update, users based in the U.S. are now seeing the Gulf of America on their maps, while those in Mexico continue to see the Gulf of Mexico. For users outside of these regions, both names will be visible. Microsoft has also adopted this name change on its Bing maps.
On February 9, 2025, Trump declared Gulf of America Day, spotlighting this geographical shift during his travels from West Palm Beach, Florida to New Orleans. This proclamation reflects a broader narrative of renaming established geographical locations, a trend that has emerged in recent years.
The Associated Press, however, has indicated that it will continue to refer to the body of water by its long-standing name, Gulf of Mexico, which has been in use for 400 years, while also acknowledging the new designation.
This renaming initiative is part of a larger discourse on how national and regional identities can influence geographical nomenclature, and it carries implications for how place names shape perceptions within society.
Overall, this change encourages dialogue surrounding identity and representation in naming conventions, reflecting the evolving nature of cultural landmarks in the U.S. and beyond.