For American app users, Google Maps now displays the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America

In accordance with the conditions of President Trump’s contentious executive order to rename the body of water, Google Maps users in the United States now refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

The modification was implemented by Google on Monday. It came when the Gulf’s site entry was changed in the Geographic Names Information System, an Interior Department-run government database that contains location data and descriptions for over a million locations across U.S. territory.

The Gulf, an ocean basin that shares nearly equal lengths of shoreline with the United States and Mexico, is described as follows in the system: “The Gulf of America, formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico, with an average depth of 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: The Gulf of America Name Change in the U.S. A Historical Perspective

The Gulf of Mexico has been known by this name for centuries, tracing back to European exploration and colonial times. It serves as a critical body of water bordering the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. Given its economic, environmental, and geopolitical significance, any change in its nomenclature is bound to attract attention.

The recent renaming on Google Maps has led to speculation about the reasons behind this shift. Some believe it could be a technical glitch, while others suspect it may be part of a broader geopolitical narrative aimed at reinforcing American influence over the region. Regardless of the reason, the name change has led to strong reactions from various sectors, including government officials, historians, and the general public.

Google explained the name change in a statement on Monday. “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,” the statement read. “The area you choose in your search preferences or, if you haven’t chosen one, the location of your device determines the names when you use Google Maps online.