Google Maps has updated its map service to display the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” in accordance with a decree issued by US President Donald Trump shortly after his inauguration. Users outside the US will still see both names, while those within the US will only see the new name. Google stated that the change is based on the official US Geographic Names Information System, which has expanded the official name to include “Gulf of America”. This aligns with Google Maps’ practice of adopting geographical names in accordance with official guidelines from the relevant countries.
The name “Gulf of Mexico” has been in use since the 16th century, bordering the US states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, as well as Mexico and Cuba. Trump’s decree applies the name change to the area up to the borders of Mexico and Cuba.
International users of Google Maps will still see the traditional name “Gulf of Mexico”, with the new name added in parentheses. This, according to Google, is the usual approach to alternative geographical names that are used in different countries.