Google Maps Renames Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America for US Users

Google Maps users in the United States now see the Gulf of Mexico labeled as the Gulf of America, following an order signed by President Trump.

The change, which took effect on Monday, aligns with the executive order titled “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness,” issued on Inauguration Day. The Interior Department had formally renamed the Gulf during Trump’s first week in office.

Government database triggers change

Google updated the name after the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), a federal database managed by the Interior Department, revised its records. GNIS maintains official names and details for more than a million locations within U.S. territory.

The new entry describes the Gulf as a large body of water, nearly enclosed by land, with coastlines stretching across both the United States and Mexico.

It states: “The Gulf of America, formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico, with an average depth 5300 ft is a major body of water bordered and nearly landlocked by North America with the Gulf’s eastern, northern, and northwestern shores in the U.S. and its southwestern and southern shores in Mexico.”

Google Maps reflects regional naming

Google said in a statement Monday that map labels depend on a user’s location. The name seen in the Google Maps app is based on a phone’s SIM card, network settings, and region. For web users, it follows either Search settings or device location if no region is manually set.

In the U.S., users now see Gulf of America instead of the original name. In Mexico, the label remains Gulf of Mexico. International users see both names displayed together.

“The names you see in the Maps app are based on your country location, which is determined by information from your phone’s operating system (e.g., iOS and Android), including your SIM, network, and locale,” Google said in a statement Monday explaining the name change.

“If you’re using Google Maps on the web, the names are based on the region you select in your Search settings or your device’s location, if you haven’t selected one.”

Google previously confirmed that it would follow the Board on Geographic Names, the federal agency responsible for place names, before implementing any map changes.

Denali renamed Mount McKinley under same order

Another major change under the same order renamed Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, back to Mount McKinley in honor of a former U.S. president who was assassinated. This marked the second time the mountain’s name had changed.

Denali is the traditional name used by Alaska Natives. However, as of Tuesday, neither Google Maps nor the Geographic Names Information System had updated it to reflect the latest change.