Google Maps is set to make significant changes to landmark names in the United States, including renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and reverting Alaska’s Denali to its previous name, Mount McKinley. These updates come as a result of an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump.
Changes Reflect Trump’s Executive Order
Google confirmed that it follows government-approved updates for geographic names, applying changes once they appear in the official Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
For geographic features in the U.S., this is when Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is updated. https://t.co/3NYvU7Bxjq
— News from Google (@NewsFromGoogle) January 27, 2025
For US users, the Gulf of Mexico will soon appear as the Gulf of America in Google Maps. The decision aligns with Trump’s directive to restore traditional names to key landmarks, including North America’s highest peak, Denali. The mountain was renamed by the Obama administration in 2015, but Trump’s executive order overrides this, reverting it to Mount McKinley.
Impact on Geographic Names Globally
While these changes will affect American users, international users will see variations. For instance:
- US users will see the Gulf of America and Mount McKinley in their maps.
- Mexican users will still see the Gulf of Mexico, in line with their country’s naming conventions.
Google’s approach reflects a practice of adapting geographic names based on the official standards of each country. For users in other regions, both names may appear side by side.
When Will the Updates Go Live?
The updates will take effect once the GNIS database reflects the changes. As of now, the database still lists the Gulf of Mexico and Denali. However, the US Department of the Interior has confirmed these changes, and Google Maps will follow suit when the official records are finalized.
For now, US users can expect to see the new names shortly, while global users may experience some discrepancies depending on their region.
