Google Maps Renames ‘Gulf of Mexico’ as ‘Gulf of America’ for US Users; Dual Names Shown Elsewhere

Summary

Google Maps Renames the 'Gulf of Mexico' and Denali in the US, but Rest of the World Will See Two Names: Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico) and Mount McKinley (Denali)

• Date: February 10, 2025
• Context: In line with a Trump Administration executive order from January 20, Google Maps has updated the name of the 'Gulf of Mexico' to 'Gulf of America' for US residents. The change is based on official government sources, specifically the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
• Other Regions: Users outside the US will see both names with 'Gulf of Mexico' as the primary name and 'Gulf of America' in parentheses. Similarly, Denali has not yet been renamed to 'Mount McKinley' within Google Maps.
• Google's Policy: Google follows a longstanding practice of using official government sources for location names. When multiple names are applicable, both will be shown in regions without an officially designated name.
• Related Updates: Other recent updates to Google Maps include changes that affect Android Auto screens and the introduction of Live Activities support on Samsung devices.